Sarah Who?

A Republican friend of mine in New York is very pleased with Sen. John McCain's selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be his running mate. Surprised, I asked why. "She has more experience than Obama," he said, "but that's not saying much. She's a true conservative." And here's the kicker: "If Obama can be the Dem nominee, why can't a more experienced woman be the GOP VP nominee?"

Good points all. But this is one mystifying Hail Mary pass by the senator from Arizona.

Sure, Palin is a governor. But she was only elected to the job in 2006. Her state has 2 million fewer people than Barack Obama's hometown of Chicago. And if the 47-year-old Obama, who was a state senator from Illinois four years ago, doesn't have enough experience to sit in the Oval Office, then what assurance do we have that the 44-year-old Palin, who was mayor of Wasilla, Alaska (pop. 9,000), could be the understudy for a man who would be the oldest elected president? McCain's slam against Sen. Barack Obama's experience has been neutralized.

(AP Photo/Chris Miller, File)

Palin is a darling of the Republican conservative base. That McCain is still trying to get a deeply skeptical base to love him on the eve of his nominating convention spells trouble. Yes, there was the internecine warfare between the Obama camp and supporters of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. But Obama's base is solid. Unlike McCain, he stands on a firm foundation to go after the independent and swing voters who could decide this election.

Then there's something my friend didn't mention. Palin is under investigation for allegedly using her position to try to can her ex-brother-in-law from a state trooper job. Some thought this killed her chances of getting the VP nod from McCain. As we're seeing today, it has had no effect on her future political trajectory at all. Time will tell if the governor with no national political experience can rise to the challenge that faces her now.

The Republican bench for potential vice presidential candidates was very weak. Huckabee, Romney and Lieberman would not have been good, all of them alienating more voters than they would have attracted. Pawlenty made sense, but he was of the wrong gender. McCain, sensing female dismay at Hillary Clinton's angst, wanted a woman, but why he chose this tyro is difficult to fathom. He had two senators from Maine in the mix along with one from Texas, but somehow the choice ends up being a complete unknown with nary a shred of national security or other experience requisite for national service. This choice will cheer the Democrats far more than Republicans and independents.

I disagree with Mr. Bloustein and with much of Mr. Capeheart's reasoning. Certainly Palin will be open to charges of inexperience in national security, but McCain will simply say that the Republicans put their national security experience at the top of the ticket, while the Democrats put theirs at the bottom. Obama's choice of Biden effectively undermined his own message of change more than selecting Hillary Clinton would have, but Biden brings 9,000 primary votes to the table rather than Clinton's 18 million votes.

As Democrats, we have to face the fact that McCain has generated excitement and interest with this pick, burnished his maverick credentials, and shrewdly exploited an opening that Obama himself created by choosing Biden. Palin has executive experience and solid reform credentials, is wildly popular in Alaska and within the GOP, and will appeal to women. By taxing oil companies and supporting gay rights, she avoids some of the GOP extremism that would turn off moderate voters. And it's a mistake to think that all Democratic women, including HRC supporters, are as strongly pro-choice as Obama is. Too many Democrats assume that the composition of the Supreme Court is the most compelling issue to Hillary's supporters, the one that will keep them in the Democratic fold. My sense is that some moderate Democratic women are uncomfortable with the pro-choice extremism that dominates the party. I'm betting Palin will have some appeal to those voters.

This pick seems to accomplish three short-term goals for McCain. First, as noted above, it gives McCain some cred with the Christian Right base of the party at the beginning of the GOP convention. Secondly, it successfully distracts the media from Obama's powerful acceptance speech. And, almost incidentally, it gives the news folks some novelty to make up for their manipulation by the McCain campaign over the last few days.

Problem is, as noted above, these are short-term gain. Looking past the GOP convention, McCain has thrown away his strongest general election argument -- that Obama lacks experience. And the pick indirectly raises the age issue -- is Gov. Palin the best choice to become commander-in-chief president if a President McCain has health problems? These are serious long-term campaign problems, adding to the suspicion that this is a desperate move with unforeseen consequences for the campaign.

How cynical of McCain to think that simply choosing a woman---in this case a young, inexperienced, pro-life woman---will bring Hillary's supporter's to his side. Sorry, John, but Palin doesn't nearly have Hillary's heft; in many ways she's the anti-Hillary. And even a Republican has to think twice about electing a 72-year-old with an inexperienced veep a heartbeat away. After all, Mr McCain, aren't you the one who's warned us to pay attention to the candidates' level of experience?

Pathetically desperate move by McSame camp. They have conceded, there's no other way to look at it. I would laugh if it were not SO shocking. Still wary, but to think that the (R) ticket has any chance now is delusion.

This is blatently throwing the United States of America, UNDER THE BUS!
Purely impulsive, while a MSNBC reporter reported that McCain's selection of Palin was made because he needed someone who was able to check in on his well being-not sure if that holds any truth, but if any, that's a whole new can of worms.
I agree with Paul B., at Hillary's apprehension. There were surely a few more distinguished potentials-female.
Is it OIL-salvation or Steven's?

Even if McCain becomes gravely ill, she will still be surrounded by advisors. She did graduate from college with a minor in political science, which would indicate that she has a longtime interest in political matters, probably reading and analyzing much over the many years since college. That mindset, ever sharpening, is critical in such an executive level position. She seems both tough and intelligent. I was waiting to see who McCain picked for a running mate because voting for Biden was looking a probability. I mean that, voting for Biden in the sense that I think he has the guts to help keep Obama in line. Looks like I'll be voting for Palin now, in the sense that I think that she has the guts to help keep McCain in line.

I haven't stopped smiling since I heard this pick -- there goes "experience" off the table. The former beauty queen with her own Vogue spread? There goes "celebrity" flying out the door. Investigation into her current misuse of power? There goes "ethics" clean government person after it ... and let's all sing happy birthday to John McCain on his 72d birthday TODAY! As a 4 time cancer survivor, he just brought his age and health right up to the top of electoral concerns for a whole lot of undecideds. And I don't know about anyone else, but I'm a woman and it seems patronizing to me to think that the Republicans think "women" are interchangeable ... this beauty queen, lifetime NRA member anti-choice right winger is no Hillary Clinton. Desperation drove this choice; the Republicans' job just got a whole lot harder!

This sounds like it was written by the Obama camp...pretty weak. And I'm glad she was the mayor of a small town because ya know what they don't have a lot of in small towns? Out of touch messianic celebrities.

"She did graduate from college with a minor in political science, which would indicate that she has a longtime interest in political matters, probably reading and analyzing much over the many years since college. That mindset, ever sharpening, is critical in such an executive level position."

That's it, Elizabeth? She graduated from college? A MINOR [not a major!] in Political Science? WOW! Stop the presses!!

The real question is how this pick plays among undecided voters. And I don't mean independents or libertarians or Catholic Dems or anything like that. I mean wishy-washy people who probably can't make up their minds in restaurants, either ("but the fish sounds good, too!").

The 18 month accidental governor of a tiny (population) state awash in oil money. The ex mayor of a city with a population smaller than many office buildings in Chicago. The number 2 of a 72 year old with cancer.

she's a creationist. is that really what we're looking for in our leaders? people who do not believe in science? that alone disqualifies her.
a mayor of a town of 9000 people. governor for a year and a half of a state w/600,000 people and she's more qualified than barack obama? put the meth pipe down, folks.

"She did graduate from college with a minor in political science, which would indicate that she has a longtime interest in political matters, probably reading and analyzing much over the many years since college. That mindset, ever sharpening, is critical in such an executive level position."

That's it, Elizabeth? She graduated from college? A MINOR [not a major!] in Political Science? WOW! Stop the presses!!

And this from a supporter of Gov. Palin?

And it was the University of Idaho she graduated from. A school my dog Mickey could get Dean's List in.

Clearly a mistake by McCain. I would have liked someone with a lot stronger resume. And being investigated for abuse of power. The dems are going to have a field day with this.
Disseffected Hillary supporters are squarely behing Obama.
My biggest problem is that the pick is clearly a choice that is better for the McCain campaign then it is for America. I guess I may be sitting this election out.

I second ezr1's comments. Strip away the partisan ranting on both sides, and Palin seems a shrewd choice for MCain, if a bit risky.

As a Democrat, I'm far from excited by McCain's candidacy. But I think Palin's adoption as his running mate makes the ticket more attractive to centrists like me.

Sure, I'm a little nervous about her inexperience, but the more I dwell on that issue, the more nervous I get about the Democratic ticket. Actuarially speaking, if McCain wins, Palin is not likely to assume the presidency during his term in office. If Obama wins, he is almost a certainty to occupy the Oval Office. And he has even less experience than she does as chief executive of a large government administration.

As a side note, I'm more than a little embarrassed by the sexism and patronization on display in many comments by my fellow Dems. It definitely opens us up to the charge that we only care about the advancement of women if the women in question belong to our political party.

A lot's going to depend on how this woman conducts herself now under the heightened scrutiny and intense daily press interaction she faces. Will she prove to be as embarrassing as Dan Quayle, or as sophisticated as Lloyd Bentsen? My money's on the Quayle bet.

"With McCain being 72 years old, the choice of VP is critical. It is extraordinarily risky to put the future of this country in the hands of someone with such a scant resume.
Posted by: agdpost | August 29, 2008 1:11 PM"

Considering Sen. Obama's scant resume, this type of statement can be thrown back twice as hard.

Agreed, Ponder, excellent analysis. The WaPo should hire you (that's not a dig at Meyerson, but rather at most of the bloviators at Hiatt's fish wrap factory). The thing that no one seems to discuss (yet) is that Palin is another bible thumper who wants to tell the rest of us how to live, the same people that McCain used to say, correctly, were destroying the Republican Party. It was only a clever pick in that she is the only religious bigot that wouldn't be identified as such on day 1.

"In 1974, as soldier in the US Army/Ft.Wainwright,AK I was invited(with friends) to a dinner party sponsored by Jay Hammond. He was definately the "outdoorsman" typical of Alaskans. I came back to Washington State the next year and picked up a newspaper to find out that he just became governer of Alaska. I am curious to see if Palin is a "true" Alaskan, because I lived in that invironment for two years. "You can take the person out of the wilderness, but you can't take the wilderness out of that person."

McCain's selection of Sara Palin is admirable b/c again he shows he willing to take a risk on a ..., pro-life, anti-gay rights social conservative. In the Republican party. How novel...none of these things have ever been represented in the Republican party before. And are we on Obama's faith again? Can the people who incorrectly, in the face of a mountain of evidence, please stop referring to him as a Muslim? How much more proof do you need to know that is a Christian? At least make this election about the issues and not about bigoted chracterizations of the candidates.

The Obama pimping pundits are panicking but trying not to show it, and trying to cover up by trashing Palin.

They think it will work, as it worked in stealing the nomination for Obama, by trashing HRC on race and sex cards.

Well, the dem primaries is one thing. HRC and Nobama split in half, and Nobama stole somehow. But aint gonna work in Nov; HRC supporters will split down the middle, and some will sit home, and more than you think will vote Mac.

It really comes down to the HRC supporters. We are the new Ohio, we are the soccer moms, we are the new "swing block", that will make the king.

And no amount of cover up will make us forget the contempt Nobama had for HRC, the shameful way in which he compared Bill to Nixon and played the race and sex cards on HRC, and the disgraceful manner in which he even refused to consider her for VP.

SHame on you Nomaba; you are toast. Could n't happen to a worse person.

If Obama supporters think bringing up this woman's lack of experience is a good thing, then they are even more incredulous than I believe.

Excuse me but she has MORE experience than the top of your ticket.

As for the pro life stance she has; this Independent voter says great. I never felt that being a pro choice candidate was what was needed for me to support McCain. Not all Hillary supporters are part of the abortion is OK as long as the woman has a "choice" to abort.

McCain did something Obama was unable to do; show he believe in a woman having the ability to be his VP. I guess McCain is not as out of touch as Obama wants us to believe. LOL

I'm very interested to see how, or if, McCain can pull disgruntled women from Obama with such a pro-life VP. I think that after the DNC, democratic women will rally behind Obama. The fact that Palin is a staunch conservative may outweigh her gender for Clinton supporters.

As a moderate and a feminist I agree with dem2's comments about being very disappointed in a lot of the sexist and patronizing comments made be DEM supporters since this announcement was made. Just because Palin used to be a Beauty Queen doesn't make her any less capable. The people of Alaska obviously think she does a pretty good job. Or are you going to start questioning the judgement of the people of Alaska? This choice def. softens McCain's ticket and may have been a very good choice for that simple fact. The McCain camp may have picked her to appeal to Hillary supporters but that argument has been undermined by Democrats themselves. She is, to borrow from others, the 'Anti-hillary' and I don't think the Republicans are naive enough to assume that her sex will attract THAT many voters. This is a step in the right direction for the GOP. I'm very happy to see more women included in the upper ranks of politics.

"McCain's slam against Sen. Barack Obama's experience has been neutralized."

Oh, really? Wishful thinking at best. Sarah Palin is not running for President, but Barrack Obama is. Dems better be careful playing and spinning this one, it is pretty easy to turn this argument and they might come out on the losing end of the experience game - again.

From John: "This sounds like it was written by the Obama camp...pretty weak. And I'm glad she was the mayor of a small town because ya know what they don't have a lot of in small towns? Out of touch messianic celebrities."

Gosh, John, glad to see you're so 'in touch!' Small town mayors obviously have the skills to run entire nations, just like mom-and-pop store owners could run Microsoft.

What else do small towns not have besides messianic celebrities? I'm really curious to understand where this small town snobbery comes from.

Harriet wrote, "If he wanted a woman he had Whitman, Snowe and Collins to chose from. With those types he would have gotten my vote. Picking a creationist with no experience is an insult."

Any of the three you name would have spelled trouble with the Republican base, which is already one of McCain's weakest points. He's trying to placate them, lasso in some Democrats suffering from an excess of unspent estrogen in the wake of Hillary's demise, and burnish his brand as a maverick all at once.

We shall soon see whether a 72 year old man can do a split without pulling three groin muscles.

I don't seriously see how any centrist is going to vote for someone who is not pro choice, against gay rights and (because from all accounts she's a darling of the conservative base) probably holds additional anti-science positions galore. I preferred Hillary but c'mon, you can't seriously argue Palin has more experience than Obama. Who knows how people will react, but I can't imagine Hillary supporters are so delusional as to vote for a woman who stands against everything Hillary stands for just because she happens to be a woman.

Capeheart is a good example of the Democrat Attack Machine in all its sleazy glory! When facts fail you, throw slime, like big boss Teddy K. Obamaniacs must have cried buckets when Gov. Palin, a past whistleblower against gov't corruption and a true reformer who talks straight instead of dancing around, knocked Obama right out of the Page 1 headline in his biggest moment.

As for Palin, she brings considerable drawbacks to the table for McCain, the biggest one being that she is not ready to be President if something happens.

If something happened to Obama, Biden is ready. More than ready. Considering Obama is a young, athletic man, I doubt anything is likely to occur.

Can you say the same with confidence about McCain, given his history of skin cancer and age (72 today)? I don't think so. And don't trot out his mother to show his durability-- McCain's father died at age 70.

I just stuffed envelopes for McCain. Sitting next to me and across the table were two women, both lifelong Democrats, former Hillary supporters, who were cheering right along with the rest of us when a woman was chosen as VP. The fact that Mrs. Palin thanked Geraldine and Hillary for going before her I think was a good point (in highlighting how the Dems have treated their women candidates - shabby!)

Republican VP pick Sarah Palin is an UNINDICTED CRIMINAL CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR ABUSE OF POWER. Read about her crimes in the Anchorage Daily News' original scoop here:

http://www.adn.com/monegan/story/478090.html

Unfit for public office... Palin fired a public official because he would not illegally terminate her sister's ex husband without cause (He's a state trooper). Palin harrassed the Alaska Public Safety Chief via her husband's threatening phone calls, and threatening calls made by others on her behalf. Then when he refused to illegally fire the trooper - she fired HIM.

Palin will square off well in debates with Biden. She need only begin her remarks or responses with words that resonate well with the Fundamentalists, their End Times cohorts, and oil companies: "Why not use troops to spread the Gospel to the Afghans? Joe, the more you talk about the world, the more you show your lack of faith. The Bible says..." Or: "Fuzzy math, Joe. In 100 years, we'll all be in heaven or hell, so why worry about 'green gas' or whatever? How are we to fill our tanks tomorrow? Up in Alaska, we could use a little more warming and a little less gore from the greens. Ha, ha."

You guys just kill me. Palin was a brilliant choice. democrats don't need experience in the oval office why should the the republicans need experience in the 2nd seat. I don't think it was a feeble attempt to attract clintonites. John is smart enough to know that wouldn't work. Its simply a matter of timing. It was time for the republicans to change and they did.

Capehart, the VP slot is the appropriate place to put the person with a lesser amount of experience. As another commenter said, the odds are that Palin will never need to take over for McCain, but the inexperienced Obama will assuredly sit in the Oval Office if he's elected. The experience issue, then, is not ceded by McCain, and normal people get that.

So while Palin gets to educate herself while residing at the Naval Observatory, Obama would be tried by fire. That's a risk I'm not willing to take, and I hope the majority of Americans agree with me.

Let's see - America is in danger because the Number 2 on the ticket might not be ready if McCain were to die in a year or two, but Obama should be President because of his judgement...despite HIS lack of experience.

Capehart, the VP slot is the appropriate place to put the person with a lesser amount of experience. As another commenter said, the odds are that Palin will never need to take over for McCain, but the inexperienced Obama will assuredly sit in the Oval Office if he's elected. The experience issue, then, is not ceded by McCain, and normal people get that.

So while Palin gets to educate herself while residing at the Naval Observatory, Obama would be tried by fire. That's a risk I'm not willing to take, and I hope the majority of Americans agree with me.

Posted by: gb506 | August 29, 2008 2:38 PM

John McCain has cancer. He is 72 years old. Whoever we elect as his vice president is the president. If not positively, very likely. The mayor of a town of 5,000 who became the accidental governor of a tiny (population) state is not ready to be President.

this poor woman is in no way HILLARY CLINTON. she is not in her league!!!!the rebublicans just threw their choice away. if they had picked a woman with more experience then it would have been a brilliant move, but this is ridiculous...if i was still a rebublican i would feel cheated right now!!!

It's very telling that the McCain people think Palin and Obama have similar levels of experience. Obama actually has a very strong resume--it's just not very long because of his age. Before gaining national office, Obama spent his adult life at the highest levels and was considered a star at every stop, Columbia and Harvard as a student; University of Chicago as a teacher; the senate in a large state.

Palin however, has a short AND weak resume. Before becoming governor, she was plodding along at the very lowest levels: University of Idaho; small town sports reporter; fisherman; small town council. Not that there is anything wrong with any of those occupations--most of us live similar lives--but they aren't where I'd seek out candidates for the most challenging and intellectually demanding job in the world.

That McCain can so easily disregard these differences betrays a real cynicism about politics. Both are young, but Obama brings a lifetime of achievement dating back to his college years. What exactly does Palin bring to the table, except for being a young, telegenic, anti-abortion woman?

McCain's complete disregard for reason and total disdain for the office of President of the United States is double underscored by his completely baffling choice.

The bigger point is this: total lack of good judgement or egomaniac of the year award goes to Palin herself. To stand up and represent to the rest of us Americans that she is prepared to be President of the United States is pure rubbish. She has no business being on the same stage as Joe Biden. Shredded in the first VP debate.

This looks like an attempt by McCain to win over the sympathetic Hilary voters, it isn't going to work. His base will vote for him regardless of who he selected. I think Biden will pull more fringe voters than Palin.
Looks like McCain sees the writing on the wall, and he is throwing a hail Mary pass.

why are the republicans trying to put this soccer mom up against Hillary Clinton, Her supporters, and the media's scutiny..this is obviously a bad decision and Hillary supporter will be INSULTED. is this what republicans thought of Hillary? i'm off the fence....voting for Obama...MCCain's choice is just too risky...

Maverick is one thing if the individual is usually both right and effective. In this instance, people should really be asking what effect on national and world events, on the juggernaut of neo-conservative forces in the Bush administration, or any other important aspect of political concern Sen. John McCain's maverick reputation has had. That's the one thing that has not been answered satisfactorily in the primary/pre-convention season. If J. McC is so clever, so upright, so different, where is that difference to be seen as an effective force for change.

Maybe it is interesting to play political games, but the state of the U. S. at this moment is anything but play. We have real and serious challenges before us and we are poised to lose our status as premier democracy in the world. I'll grant that no person or party possesses all the answers, but the Republican party has shown 8 years of contempt for such concerns. Pulling electoral "trump cards" demonstrates yet further contempt for the American electorate.

The weak arguments to prop up the failures of 8 years of mis-administration (on conservative ideals formulated by Ronald Reagan more than 30 years ago) are troubling to say the least. The economic and international woes of this country can be directly traced to policies and actions taken by the Bush administration and backed up for a solid six years by a Republican led Congress. Now, Republicans would like to cast these issues on the Democrats who have held thin majorities in both the House and Senate (while Republicans and a suddenly vetoing Pres. Bush have played a determinedly obstructionist role). The "small government" approach has been tried and failed.

I heard some conservative leaning commentator blame the banking and housing debacles on Alan Greenspan's low interest policies of a few years back. I don't recall any administration people complaining back then. There was always the means of regulating, but no one cared as the pyramids grew steadily higher. Only when the stones began to slip and land on the heads of banks and investment firms did an alarm begin to spread.

So now it's time for something else, and the governor of Alaska (or anywhere else) isn't going to help.

Such an irresponsible choice and such blatant pandering to women voters. I wonder if it will work? I have little faith left in the ability of Americans to think logically about these things.

Personally, I am disgusted with the GOP for choosing to go with who they think will get McCain elected instead of who they think is the best choice. It shows they think women voters are really, really gullible.

You do have it wrong. The point about experience is this: John McCain has been saying emphatically and energetically that a person with as little experience as Obama should not be president. Given that Palin has less experience than Obama, and the VP's only consitutional role is to fill in for an ailing or deceased president, it then follows that McCain has IMPLICITLY contradicted his own argument. He can no longer credibly make the statement "people with little experience should not be president".

Lokki, this is called a logical argument. Remember the Greeks, learning, wisdom, the basis of our Consitution, legal system, science, etc.

Scant resume?? If anyone has a scant resume it's Barack Obama. Palin has more executive experience than Obama and Biden PUT TOGETHER! The Democrats were INSANE to put such an inexperienced pol, Obama, at the top of their ticket. Now they will reap the consequences. As far as investigations, the guy who financed Obama's house in Chicago HAS ALREADY BEEN CONVICTED for corruption. Other investigations of Obama and dirty Chicago politics may ensue.

Let's be honest, McCain probably wouldn't have picked Palin if she weren't so attractive, physically. What makes you think different? Look how he treats Cindy. It's easy to see that McCain is a "good old boy" and good old boys don't usually have much use for a woman unless she's a looker.

As a lifelong republican, I am outraged by McCain’s VP pick. Is McCain completely OUT of his mind? Palin is the worst VP pick since Dan Quayle. Let’s review: allegations of abuse of power, deep ties to big oil when tens of millions of Americans are feeling pain at the pump, previously the mayor of a one-mule town in Alaska, and absolutely zero foreign policy experience. And if it IS true that those filthy sex pictures being circulated on the internet are of Palin during her college days in Idaho, I will STAY HOME in November before I vote for McCain.

A little more than a year, everyone thought that Barack Obama had zero business running for president. Over the past year, he has proven that he has what it takes to be the "quarterback" of the Democratic campaign for the White House. Like him or not, you have to acknowledge his ability to capitalize on the opportunities presented to him. He is an excellent candidate and I'm eager to see how the next couple of months play out. Nearly the same arguments the right used against Obama are now being used against Palin. Too young, token candidate, no foreign policy experience, skeletons in the closet, etc. I lean towards the right and even I have to say I have my doubts about her being ready for "prime time". In spite of that, I'm willing to hold off on saying yay or nay about her until I have a little more than four hours of press coverage and a wikipedia entry.

This is ridiculous. The Governor of Hawaii is a woman and she has far more experience. I can think of 10 female politicans with more experience-- in both parties.

Barack Obama has 13 years' experience in politics and in organizing communities before then. He worked for more people in Chicago than Palin ever worked for as a mayor. He has experience, he has led a great movement, he has gotten a lot more people involved in politics and registering voters, he's raised money and more volunteers than any presidental candidate ever.

The proof is before our eyes. Obama didn't need to be "discovered" by a presidental candidate.

If you like Palin for her political position, okay, excellent.

I wouldn't vote for her UNLESS I AGREED with her political positions-- pro life, pro-creationist, pro-abuse of power, pro-McCain.

I don't. Geraldine Ferraro ran for vice president 20 years ago, and it's only because of Hillary that the Republicans have ever thought about putting a woman on the ticket instead of politicans like Pawlenty.

So, they purposely chose Palin, who can't get her facts rights and has no idea what a vice president does. Pathetic.

How many of you would actually prefer Rice or Hillary, or other female politican you know about and respect?

"She did graduate from college with a minor in political science, which would indicate that she has a longtime interest in political matters, probably reading and analyzing much over the many years since college. That mindset, ever sharpening, is critical in such an executive level position."

This is a joke, right? So I guess everybody that graduates college with a minor in Political Science is now qualified for the VP spot? if that's thwe case, where is my phone call from McCain? John Lennon once sang the lyrics "Everybody smokin', but nobody gettin' high". This is how I feel, sober. If you are going to try to sell this pick as a good choice, at least make me feel warm and fuzzy. I do not. I think a large proportion of moderate republican voters and independants are either going to back Obama/Biden or sit it out. Statistically, that's bad news for the republicans.

It's time for the good old boy network to end. Obama's resume doesn't matter just becasue he is a MAN? But Palin's does because she is a WOMAN? By the way is not I believe GOVERNOR Palin is the proper way to address her. Just like it is for SENATOR Obama

I'm curious to see her in the debates answer questions about National Security against Biden and speak about equal pay for women after McCain voted against it every time it was up for vote - seemingly, the only position that candidate McCain and Sen. McCain agree on.

And earlier that year, the Anchorage Daily News reported that Palin said the following about creationism at a debate:

"Teach both. You know, don't be afraid of information....Healthy debate is so important and it's so valuable in our schools. I am a proponent of teaching both. And you know, I say this too as the daughter of a science teacher. Growing up with being so privileged and blessed to be given a lot of information on, on both sides of the subject -- creationism and evolution. It's been a healthy foundation for me. But don't be afraid of information and let kids debate both sides."

I was on the fence till now, but I think I just fell to the Obama side.

how is this poor choice going to help mccain with his obvious weakness in economic issues...this cheap trick will not sway hillary supporters...in other blogs they are already expressing their utter disgust...if mccain dies Hillary will have no chance to be the first female president...how is this situation going to sway hillary supporters????.......i'm waiting..

"She did graduate from college with a minor in political science, which would indicate that she has a longtime interest in political matters, probably reading and analyzing much over the many years since college. That mindset, ever sharpening, is critical in such an executive level position."

I hate to rain on your parade, but I have a minor in computer science from the University of Idaho and I can barely type this message.

“ … then what assurance do we have that the 44-year-old Palin, who was mayor of Wasilla, Alaska (pop. 9,000), could be the understudy for a man who would be the oldest elected president?” Hmm, seems to me even at that point, she was the executive agent for 9,000 people more than Obama has ever led (no the same as represent!).

"She did graduate from college with a minor in political science, which would indicate that she has a longtime interest in political matters, probably reading and analyzing much over the many years since college. That mindset, ever sharpening, is critical in such an executive level position."

This is a joke, right? So I guess everybody that graduates college with a minor in Political Science is now qualified for the VP spot? John Lennon once sang the lyrics "Everybody smokin', but nobody gettin' high". This is how I feel. If you are going to try to sell this pick as a good choice, at least make me feel warm and fuzzy. I do not. I think a large proportion of moderate republican voters and independants are either going to back Obama/Biden or sit it out. Statistically, that's bad news for the republicans.

how is this poor choice going to help mccain with his obvious weakness in economic issues...this cheap trick will not sway hillary supporters...in other blogs they are already expressing their utter disgust...if mccain dies Hillary will have no chance to be the first female president...how is this situation going to sway hillary supporters????.......i'm waiting..

"She did graduate from college with a minor in political science, which would indicate that she has a longtime interest in political matters, probably reading and analyzing much over the many years since college. That mindset, ever sharpening, is critical in such an executive level position."

This is a joke, right? So I guess everybody that graduates college with a minor in Political Science is now qualified for the VP spot? John Lennon once sang the lyrics "Everybody's smokin', but nobody gettin' high". This is how I feel. If you are going to try to sell this pick as a good choice, at least make me feel warm and fuzzy. I do not. I think a large proportion of moderate republican voters and independants are either going to back Obama/Biden or sit it out. Statistically, that's bad news for the republicans.

Jayee wrote, "I guess Romney was not choosen because he disagreed with McCain's economic policies."

I suspect that Romney was not chosen because he has extremely high negatives in that sector of the Republican party with the fewest branches in its family trees - ahem, excuse me, I meant to see that sector of the Republican party where McCain is weakest - Protestant evangelicals.

The bottom line is that this country is having plenty of issues right now. Look at the Economy. I am sure each and everyone on this board is middle class and working. I am not voting for someone who doesn't show that they care about how people are living. Bush messed this country up and you all know it. We need someone who will fix the problems that he created and that is the bottom line. I am a women and I will not be voting for someone just because they put a woman on the ticket. This is an insult to all women because the bottom line is that if Barack wasn't an African American then McCain wouldn't have a woman as a running mate and you all know it. She is stupid for even letting him insult her in this way. And if you all like struggling then watch that rich McCain jack this country up more. He doesn't care about middle class people. It is very obvious!

You said:
"He had two senators from Maine in the mix along with one from Texas, but somehow the choice ends up being a complete unknown with nary a shred of national security or other experience"

It's because she's attractive and sexy. The 'uglicans know that it's not about experience or any of their other objections. It's about either motivating or frightening the stupid people on election day.

What IS good though, is that for the first time, America will have either a female VP or a black president.

Jayee wrote, "I guess Romney was not choosen because he disagreed with McCain's economic policies."

I suspect that Romney was not chosen because he has extremely high negatives in that sector of the Republican party with the fewest branches in its family trees - ahem, excuse me, I meant to say "that sector of the Republican party where McCain is weakest - Protestant evangelicals".

“ … then what assurance do we have that the 44-year-old Palin, who was mayor of Wasilla, Alaska (pop. 9,000), could be the understudy for a man who would be the oldest elected president?” Hmm, seems to me even at that point, she was the executive agent for 9,000 people more than Obama has ever led (not the same as represent!).

This is a long term mistake for McCain for simple reasons. The GOP will make a severe mistake in comparing Palin to Obama. Obama was ELECTED into his position and has served the public longer. Palin was OPOINTED out of the ether into her position. She is a conservative whom will appeal only to a small contingent of one-issue feminists. Clinton will come out and attack Palin directly on the stump...she is in fact an anti-Hillary in the truest sense and it exposes McCain to pandering. Obama/Biden has more combined experience than McCain/Palin who will be forced to defend Bush's record. Biden/Obama are now free to assualt McCain openly while leaving Palin to Clinton. The experience attack on Obama is now mute. White conservative men will not support McCain's pick of an inexperienced woman(the truth the media won't reveal)...older voters will percieve McCain as pandering. Biden and Obama's task of debating McCain/Palin has become increadibly easier because Palin will be forced to defend McCain's positions. It is a shortsighted pick...Palin is a great woman I'm sure..but she is not suited for the role she will be forced to play.

Anonymous, G.W. Bush had experience running business and Texas. Doesn't mean he was GOOD at it, or good for the country. He just got the job and connections through his daddy. Palin has never had to go out and sell herself to America that she is able to lead this country.

Obama has convinced over 18 million people he is capable of doing so. He has a list of laws he wants to pass at barackobama.com ; he has a degree in international relations, a J.D. in law, and experience in civil law. And yeah, he knows what the constitution is.

We have people in my small town who are executives. They've been stupid enough to award contracts to convicted felons (for fraud too), without even doing background checks.

I'm not going to be all jazzed over this "executive background." It's an worthy job; I simply don't know if it's prepared her for the more complex job of being a vice-president-- negotiating treaties; representing America aboard, working with Congress on legislation to pass, being president of the Senate (that's what the vice president does).

If she's been using her job to go after ex-brother-in-laws, I'm not too impressed so far.

its FUNNY to read all you obama supporters say she doesnt have enought experiance to be vp, you are making our point exactly cause she has more experiance then obama and he is trying to be president, what idiots you people are, obama was a communtiy organizer, she was a mayor and is a governer, you people are making the point for us OBAMA does not have the experiance to be president, and she is going for the vp slot not to be the president, kool aid drinkers are so stupid making our point for us about obama

the other reason this is such a poor vp pick is that she has not been vetted yet...why would you want your campaign to be intensely scutinized approximatly 60 days before election day?!!!...How is she going to compete with a VP like joe biden who has more experience and connections than john mccain?? face it...johm mccain has just pushed me right off the fence onto the obama side...this vp "gamble" is insane!!!

Why have several of you referred to Palin as "accidental governor?" Do you enjoy parroting each other and demonstrating your ignorance? Mission accomplished!

Palin was elected fairly and squarely by the people of Alaska in a regular election (incidentally, after having exposed ethics problems of fellow Republicans and despite being outspent by her Dem opponent). Her election was no accident (unlike, apparently, the conception of some of you...).

Palin's ascension to the office of governor was certainly cleaner than your messiah Obama's path to presidential nominee of your collective party, or Dumbyah's election (twice!) to the actual office. Whether you like/respect Palin or not, she was not an "accidental governor."

...And *she's* not running for president, unlike your inexperienced messiah. I'm no McCain-er, but you people redefine ignorance.

Wouldn't it be funny if McCain died in office and this no-experience, know-nothing woman was even more out of her league and in over her head that the idiot bush!

It's just like when Bush nominated his personal lawyer to the supreme court... when she had never even been a JUDGE!

The way the republicans govern reminds me of a stupid boss I once had. He didn't know what was going on, so he always made decisions by asking "which choice is the least likely to make my boss mad at me?" Unfortunately, that's not the same thing as "what's the right decision", which led him to make bad decisions... and get fired.

Same with the 'uglicans. They know that the stupid people are the only undecided voters, so they decide the election, every single time. The 'uglies nominate whoever the stupid people will vote for: Regan, Quayle, Bush... but then they get an incompetent president, over and over.

Next one will be this woman-out-of-nowhere. They're not trying to grab the Hillary votes; Hillary voters are not stupid enough to vote republican. They're going after the STUPID WOMAN vote.

All elections these days are so close that ANY sizeable group of voters switching sides will flip the election result.

Wouldn't it be funny if McCain died in office and this no-experience, know-nothing woman was even more out of her league and in over her head that the idiot bush!

It's just like when Bush nominated his personal lawyer to the supreme court... when she had never even been a JUDGE!

The way the republicans govern reminds me of a stupid boss I once had. He didn't know what was going on, so he always made decisions by asking "which choice is the least likely to make my boss mad at me?" Unfortunately, that's not the same thing as "what's the right decision", which led him to make bad decisions... and get fired.

Same with the 'uglicans. They know that the stupid people are the only undecided voters, so they decide the election, every single time. The 'uglies nominate whoever the stupid people will vote for: Regan, Quayle, Bush... but then they get an incompetent president, over and over.

Next one will be this woman-out-of-nowhere. They're not trying to grab the Hillary votes; Hillary voters are not stupid enough to vote republican. They're going after the STUPID WOMAN vote.

All elections these days are so close that ANY sizeable group of voters switching sides will flip the election result.

Obviously, the Republicans are so desperate to retain control of the White House, they are risking the safety,security and well-being of 300 million Americans in the event McCain, the mental midget, is unable to serve out his term in office. If McCain wanted a Palin as his VP, he should have picked the Monty Python guy, Michael Palin.

What a lousy choice. The Republicans are once again trying to throw the wool over everyone's eyes. First they nominate an incompetent George W. Bush who started a war he couldn't win, gives us record gas prices, a terrible economy, watches a major city go under water (New Orleans) and spilts our nation right down the middle. But that's not enough. These subversives (GOP) then allow thier current nominee (McCain) to appoint a person on the ticket that does nothing to protect our country or improve our economy. The appointment was done to appeal to swing voters and women. What are her qualifications? Say what you want about Obmaa, at least he went through a vetting process called the primaries which rightfully called into question his vision for America. By the sheer fact of his winning the Democratic primary his postion was affirmed and his vision was accepted. Who vetted Gov. Palin, the 8,000 or so residents of a small town in Alaska or the under 3 million residents of the entire state. The GOP does not care about America, they are only concerned with lining their pockets. Come on America don't let these fat cats lead you down the same road in November. Haven't we've all has enough ?

I looked at her resume. She couldn't get hired for a high level clerk in a big league city like New York or LA. I think this pick calls McCain's mental competence into question. I respected his mind in the past though I didn't always agree with him. This move smells of desperation, and DUMB desperation at that.

What a pick! I think women should respond to this vp pick the same way Black America responded to Bush Sr the day he picked Claren Thomas to be on the Supreme Court " you've got to be kidding." When it comes to issues women care about, she is closer to Ann Coulter than she is to Hillary Clinton. This is the mother of al pandering. It seems to me that republicans, and John McCain in particular, think the American people are really stupid

This pick reminds me of the short-lived TV show "Commander-in-Chief." On that show, the female VP, Mackenzie Allen (played by Geena Davis), an Independent, was added to the ticket of Republican candidate Teddy Bridges to appeal to the women's vote. Two years into Bridges' first term, he died unexpectedly, leaving Allen as president.

Ironically, the Allen character had far more experience than the real-life Palin has: Allen was portrayed as having spent two years in Congress and served as chancellor of the University of Richmond. Palin, though . . . well, given her almost laughable lack of prior political experience, do we really want her A Heartbeat Away?

I totally agree with DorisinMountP's comment that McCain's choice of Palin is the equivalent of throwing the US under the bus.

Based on her background to date, it would take Palin more than four years to get a clue on the very basics of international relations. (Unless one considers Alaska to be the equivalent of a foreign country.) Even the French first lady, Carla Bruni, would have more of an idea of what to do in the international arena -- which isn't exactly a larger than normal PTA meeting.

This is a total disaster for any Republicain who isn't a single-issue (e.g. abortion) voter.

McCain-Palin? I'm bailin! I was somewhat on the fence before, but have now made up my mind. Although I think that putting a woman on the ticket is symbolically a move in the right direction for our country, it should not be done as a gimmick. As a young executive, I truly believe that age does not equal experience or intellect, so this is not an issue for me. But, with Palin's views on further drilling at the expense of polar bears? Come on people...in order to move this country in the right direction, we need to advance. Advance does not mean further depletion of our resources. As far as McCain is concerned, this is not the right guy either. How can someone who does not keep up with the times to even know how to "Google" advance us in any way? At this point, the only candidate I believe that can bring us the change we need is Obama. A president alone doesn't move the country, the people do, and Obama has the charisma that moves people into action...he invokes emotion...that is all this country needs, and it will trigger a reaction. He himself is a symbol of hope, and this alone will help restore confidence in people to return us to prosperity. Obama's choice of Biden tells me that he is open to opposition and new ideas. Obama knew Biden was not a supporter of his early on, but despite this, he chose him. If we don't want to repeat the last 8 years...weak dollar, war, fiscal irresponsibility, unfair trade practices, etc. we need to elect a "change agent," and that is Obama.

The biggest challenge for the Democrats will to avoid laughing too hard. Palin is manifestly unqualified to be president, which is what the vice-president is there for. All the more so when the Republican presidential nominee is 72 year old going on 90.

The Obama campaign will need to methodically and respectfully take her apart. I do believe this is a job for Hillary Clinton.

jai wrote:
"A woman who refused to abort her baby born with Down Syndrome is more impressive than a man who refuses to acknowledge his Muslim upbringing"

How can you possibly connect these two ideas together?? Let me guess, for you 2+2 = apple?

Shouldn't this women at least be in her home state making sure this child gets the love and nurturing he needs? Isn't that the message our Repub. "friends" would be hammering on a democrate in the same situation?

What a Rebel, McCain picked a social conservative who breaks with the party line on nothing at all!!! She even fits in with all the other Republican in Alaska in that she is under investigation for crimes while in office as well.

I wonder if her grades were as bad as Senator McCain's, and where she went to school. Has she ever done anything other than be a mayor of a small town,and a governor for a few month, note I pretty sure she took off Maternity Leave for part of her current and only term as well.

Senator Obama was a community organizer for 15K a year, when he could have been making 150k a year for more than a decade, so he has lots experience before the Senate.

Everyone is certainly free to vote for whomever they'd like but I, as a woman who actually supported Hillary, is beyond offended by those of you who say that just because Palin is a woman, we all need to now vote for McCain. That is beyond ludicrous. If you can't look past this woman's gender to what she actually stands for (i.e. make an intelligent choice based on the issues--and no, I'm not telling you what stand you should take on the issues, to each his own), then it is quite obvious that you belong voting for someone who is ignorant enough to believe that teaching creationism isn't unconstitutional.

For the majority of Hillary supporters Palin makes Obama look like he's wearing an orange pantsuit!

Palin has a degree in journalism and was able to run a state with abundant natural resources and a tiny population. That hardly qualifies her as “experienced.” That’s like thinking the CEO of a 20 person start-up can run a Fortune 500 company. Alaska is the boondocks of politics and her qualifications wouldn’t even allow her to be mayor of a major city like LA, Chicago or New York.

Palin looks great on paper but her experience in the backwaters of the country are nothing compared to negotiating politics in a place like Chicago.

All democrats should shut up about Palin. Let all the republicans vent pro or con regarding the selection. There are enough disgruntled Republicans born out of this veep selection of McCain's that we need not say a word. Let them eat each other alive over it.

Rove must be beating his head bloody against a brick wall in an undisclosed location. I love the peppy, optimistic spin the 'pubs are putting on this desperate, nutty choice. Now they know how it feels . . .

This pick is born of desperation,imagine
what else could possibly have motivated him to pick a person who has absolutely no
credentials other then that of a hockey mom and a lifetime member of the NRA. McCain is 72 today,chances are if he wins
that he will face health issues in the next 4 years, it is mind boggeling that he
would entrust the destiny of this country
to a neophyte with not a scintilla of expertise.I wonder how the other short list
candidates feel knowing they were used as decoys.This man has not had a cogent thought in years, now this selection confirms it.If he wanted a woman there
are qualified female senators and congress
women to pick maybe they didn't want him,
perhaps they see the handwriting on the wall.

Now the country knows what John McCain thinks about the serious challenges facing America. I must win at any cost!

It seems like this election is one big game to republicans. At least in the plotting of John McCain's campaign pin heads.

This is an insult to every voter in America. I guess, grap a woman, (any woman); change the subject, and get some headlines are the stradegies of the day.

Forget about the fact that Gov. Palin may have to take over the reins of the government in a time of crises....

This decision is a huge disappointment and reflects not only on Senator McCain's judgement. But on his desperation to win the election at any cost; over his mantra of, "Country First".

Moreover, why would this campaign compare Senator Clinton's historic race with the selection of this candidate. As I see it, all they have in common, is their sex.

Gov. Patin has no record which remotely compares with the many accomplishments of Hillary Clinton.

Senator McCain has been a great disappointment to me. I, for the first time in my life considered voting for John McCain. It would have been a greater mistake than those who voted for George Bush.

His decison making skills, smear, smut and lies approach to campaigning pushed me away from making a bad decision; it might have been an important vote against the well-being of this country which; I love so much.

WONDER WOMAN
Could this girl be...WONDER WOMAN? Let the bloggers try to impeach her for the fact she is a woman, or the reality that her real work history is worth less than Obama's inventions, but see the other three fingers that are pointing back at you! Well Sarah, bust out the golden lasso and make them tell the truth!

Gee folks, no I DO NOT think that she is qualified for the VP spot based on a political science minor. That was stated to say that she didn't just become interested in politics yesterday. Knowledge of political history is an asset at the very least. We are in a desperate situation here. And no, Huey, Dewey, and Louie do not constitute advisors. I think that Hillary would have been the best option for president, but that is out as is any vp she would have chosen. How did our country get into such a mess that McCain/Palin and Obama/Biden are now our only options? Now Biden/? may have been a decent choice. And Oliver, try some Bach or Beethoven.

The wreck that is my lifelong political party has been a wierd, slow cataclysm. Like watching one of those car accidents in slow motion where the last thing after the metallic carnage is over is a lonely, spinning hubcap. Mrs. Palin is that lonely, spinning hubcap. I am voting for Obama this year, I cannot in good concience do otherwise. Sorry to my long line of Republican forefathers.

Palin IS running for president. Keep that in mind. I think that John McCain has put the country at risk by choosing someone (a really nice and good governor) who is clearly not qualified at this point in her career to lead the United States. She has no expertise in foreign affairs, no experience with international relations. She will bring the evangelicals into McCain's camp. But, I'm afraid I see the selection of Gov. Palin as a political maneuver that has more to do with winning an election than doing what is best for our country.

I don't understand the whole "experience" argument. 1) Obama has more worldly experience by having actually lived in other countries. 2) His judgement has already been shown to be better by not voting to approve the Iraq war. 3) Presidents don't make decisions in a vacuum, they're always surrounded by advisors to fill in the gaps. - So, help me undersand why Obama's so-called "lack of experience" matters. On the other hand, a president with one foot in the grave choosing a VP who believes in religious fables rather than science causes me no end of worry. If America elects McCain/Palin, then it deserves to loose its stature in the world because the judgement of the people will be shown to be lacking.

Talking about pandering...McBush is trying to fool Hillary's whining babies with the mirage of a woman on his ticket; Tha she is a flaming pro-lifers it's secondary in his senile's head.
Plus I thought that to nominate a person under ethics investigation was a definite no-no. What gives? Is Karl the brain(fart)behind it?

A woman who refused to abort her baby born with Down Syndrome is more impressive than a man who refuses to acknowledge his Muslim upbringing.

Posted by: Jai kholsa | August 29, 2008 2:11 PM

Jai Hholsa, if I'm not mistaken, you're an East Indian just like I am. I'm so disapointed in you. You know that Barak Obama grew up in Kansas in a christan family environment. If you don't, than you are a true moron just like others even in the mordern world where infomation is just a goole away!!!

"She did graduate from college with a minor in political science, which would indicate that she has a longtime interest in political matters, probably reading and analyzing much over the many years since college. That mindset, ever sharpening, is critical in such an executive level position." -Elizabeth

Are you kidding me? Minoring in political science is a box on the VP check-list now? If she graduated from college, I'd hope she could "read and analyze" things. She's been an executive for less than 2 years and we're supposed to believe she's possibly ready to help balance budgets, meet with dignitaries, and navigate foreign crises? While you're at it, why don't you add Mickey and Minnie Mouse to the ticket. They would probably be more knowledgable.

McCain maybe gambling that Palin may distract people from the controversy connected to Cindy McCain's seven houses and her beer fortune. What better distraction than an attractive youngish mother who owns three houses (as Politico.com reports)? That'll get the tongues wagging! After all, it always take a female target to divert attention away from another one.

Don't underestimate gender politics. Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton both gave incredible speeches at the Democratic Convention - a devastating assault that probably won over a lot of female voters that were on the fence. I'm no HRC fan, but was still impressed. Cindy McCain probably is incapable of being the same kind of asset for the Republicans.

I think McCain is hoping to get a boost from females and the evangelical set, while avoiding any credible intellectual challenges from his number 2 if he's elected. This is two-steps back for women.
The underlying message here is: Be unqualified and easy on the eyes and the highest levels of power will be laid at your feet.

OMG ... What an interesting dilemma: To vote for an African-American (neophite Senator) for president - with a seasoned Senator as his VP - or to vote for a seasoned Senator for president - with a female (neophite Senator) as his VP ... So, for historical purposes only, the 2008 elections might as well boil down to RACE vs GENDER. After all, if the Democrats can maintain control the House and Senate, does it really matter who becomes the President?

"Her state has 2 million fewer people than Barack Obama's hometown of Chicago. "
... so what? NObama wasn't mayor of Chicago or Governor of Illinois ... he was a minor senator and a community activist/organizer!!
Palin has more experience than NObama ... and that is so sad that Democrats will settle for so little from their nominee!!
McCain-Palin '08
Hillary-Nutter 2012!!!!!!!!!!

Palin doesn't get it about the Iraq war. Her judgment is off. Period. End of story.
Women wake up! Have some sophistication to realize the ploy being dealt you. I'd like to think that you are wise enough to vote for the leaders that will take this country in the right direction. This Republican campaign does not get it: surely you realize that this isn't about a beauty contest or a football game. As Hillary put it: this duo "would take this country in the wrong direction." Hello. Surely you of my gender are not so false and fake as to vote for the very nemesis of what Hillary fought for. You are not that stupid....
Talk about fiscal responsibility all you want, but 10 billion a month is an incredible waste and that's just the tip of the iceberg with the Republicans. Palin had a Downe Syndrome baby fully knowing about it months beforehand. Fine. Now who is going to take care of that baby now? Will it be her husband boarding about in the snow? Is this really family first with five young kids or is this showboating for effect? My sister is disabled and I know how much it can take to really be there for her.
In her acceptance speech Palin declared that there is "only one man that has fought for America and that man is John McCain." As well, she said that McCain is the only man on the ballot that reflects "Profiles in Courage".
What kind of nonsense and idiocy is this? I think this woman just left out a slew of American people, soldiers and non-soldiers alike, who have given their best for this country. She has no judgment, no wisdom and this is what counts....understanding first. McCain picked his female counterpart. They just don't get it and with deeper probing into their family lives, is is simply showboating whether it's about McCain having an affair with Cindy while married or whether it's about traipsing off to Washington when a Downe Syndrome kid needs your love. What a crock. I don't care if there is someone with boobs standing up there on the podium. I care that the waste and death get stopped and our economy gets cracking, our people become smarter and wiser. Look at her background. Palin will do for you what she does for Polar bears

Fundamentally nothing has changed. McCain has selected a running mate that will satisfy the Republican base more so than the independents that already feel the republican party does not have workable answers to our pressing problems.
So in the end the voters will still be making a decision to either stay the course, or vote for a different path to the future.

McCain has shown that he can't stand up to the God's Only Party wing of the GOP. This is a weak choice and a bad decision. There were numerous better qualified persons and it doesn't take an actuary to figure out that a back up ready to go is more needed when the CIC is 72 and has had cancer four times.

As an ex Alaskan resident, I can assure you that Alaskan politics is extremely parochial and more then just a bit off kilter. It's one of the few states where real rebels have a shot at succeeding. That probably explains a lot of Palin's rise in politics up there. Politics on the national stage is going to be a shock to her though. Qualified? Get real.

If she is so pro-life, she needs to stay home and take care of her children. A Down's Syndrome child needs a lot of care and attention. Early intervention and lots of stimulation can take them to the point where they can read and write. A mother who is vice-president cannot devote the time and energy this kind of child needs. Palin needs to stay home and devote her full energy to this child and seek political office when the child is old enough to go to school. Not a good choice for McCain. A child needs its mother-full-time!
She looks like a good candidate for the Maury Show or Jerry Springer's.

I have been reading these comments where Senator Clinton supporters now say that they will vote for McCain because he picked a female. Senator Clinton is a very smart woman, and intelligent...there is a difference. She will never give up the fight for health care and education. In the Senate she will be a strong voice for women and their causes. Those of you who have chosen to cast your vote for McCain, because he chose a female, do her a terrible disservice. You reject the very cause for which she fought so hard.

It's finally happened! McCain and his party have officially 'Jumped the Shark'. I have been watching and listening all day long and it feels like I am back in high school , only this time the candidates get to control nuclear weapons instead of organizing the homecoming dance. This is pathetic but also quite frightening if they were to win. I sincerely hope the American people will see this 'hail mary pass' for what it is and finally realize just how out of touch McCain truly is. (and how dangerous it would be to give him the keys to this country)

It is not sexist to point out that her far thinner resume robs McCain of the ability to spout diatribes about Obama's. It is not sexist to point out that this "reformer" is from a state up to its eyebrows in FBI corruption investigations. It is not sexist to point out that she vocally supports Ted Stevens, perhaps the most corrupt member of the Senate and a man who could give Randall Cunningham quid pro quo lessons. It is not sexist to point out that as thin as her experience is, her academic and life credentials are anemic, and that running a town of 8411 (a part time job) is hardly akin to diving into the headwaters of policy exploration. Or are you ready to compare her grasp of domestic and foreign policy issues to Hillary Clinton's?
Democrats ARE for treating women equally--and when they're simply popular eye candy pointing that out is not sexist. She is stridently pro life, a creationist, anti gay and a lifetime NRA member--and this is the woman Hillary's supporters will turn to despite her & McCain's fervent conservatism? Dream on Republicans, McCain has made the pick of Dan Quayle look inspired.....

I am an African American woman. Early on, I have been impressed with Obama. Who wouldn't be!? He is an absolutely brilliant person. I have no doubt that he could lead this country effectively. However, I decided not to vote because I believe that an honest, brillant man can be destroyed by a corrupt society. I also fear for his life if Obama actually becomes president. However, John McCain's decision today has shown me that I must vote for Obama. McCain has no judgment at all to put this country in such jeopardy with his VP choice. Granted, Palin has made some huge accomplishments, but as soon as she opened her mouth on camera, clearly she is out of her league. So thanks, McCain. You just gave Obama my vote.

It's finally happened! McCain and his party have officially 'Jumped the Shark'. I have been watching and listening all day long and it feels like I am back in high school , only this time the candidates get to control nuclear weapons instead of organizing the homecoming dance. This is pathetic but also quite frightening if they were to win. I sincerely hope the American people will see this 'hail mary pass' for what it is and finally realize just how out of touch McCain truly is. (and how dangerous it would be to give him the keys to this country)

You people who write for the Washington Post don't get it. John "old man" McCain was a POW some 40 years ago. He therefore can do anything he wants even if it makes no sense. Who are we to question him. After all, he is a former POW.

The experience question didn’t work for HRC, and it wouldn’t have worked for McCain either. Romney didn’t connect with anyone in the primaries, and the far right in the Repub base (I am not one of them) wouldn’t gel with Romney either. McCain has to roll the dice to win anyway, so why not go all the way? If you take some time to read up on what she’s done, I’d say that underestimating her would be a mistake, just like HRC did with Barry. The bigger joke is Barry’s tax cut for “95% of Americans”, in which he is of course including those who don’t make enough to pay any taxes. If he wins, all the Barry lemmings (especially the middle class ones) will be whining in two years when they realize has has raised taxes on everyone to embrace the socialist ideals of his man Hugo Chavez. I also think it’s interesting that Barry hammers McCain about the disenfranchised, when tax records reveal that McCain gave away 26% of his 2007 income to charities, and Barry only 6%.

I'm saddened by Pam's comments, whose racial undertones I thought would have been scrapped by BO's nomination. What will you posit next, that we still needs affirmative action? I would suggest a strong dose of Bill Cosby would be helpful to dispel these archaic thoughts.

Democrat or Republican, Experience or no experience. I think it's all a big joke. We've seen how far Bush's "experience" has taken us. Thanks Bush -- your "experience" has turned us into one of the most reviled nations in the world...

The Democrats in charge of the party just can't stand the thought of a Women(any Women,Dem or Rep)in the White House as an elected offical. I guess they want them to stick to baking cookies and raising the children, running the country is a job for the "Men".

What mother with 5 kids, all of whom are school age and one of whom especially needs their mother, would not only campaign but potentially take a job that requires so much time and energy away from her family? She would be pulled in too many directions, even if she had more experience. With her lack of experience, and her family situation, I can't think of a worse choice for V.P. It was a last-ditch effort by McCain, and I am confident it will backfire for many, many reasons.

Just because McCain was foolish enough to disregard "troopergate" doesn't mean he won't have to dump Palin before November. He will.

We now know that Palin made many false statements about her discussions with other officials, including the police commissioner whom she ultimately fired for no good reason. She will not even be able to stay on the ticket until election day. This lady will prove to be John McCain's Eagleton ("I support him 1000%") and nothing more.

Elizabeth wrote: "Gee folks, no I DO NOT think that she is qualified for the VP spot based on a political science minor. That was stated to say that she didn't just become interested in politics yesterday. Knowledge of political history is an asset at the very least."
Well girlfriend,I graduated from college with a degree in Political Philosophy, a minor in Political Science and a minor in Theology. I own my own business. based on your statements, I'm more qualified than Palin. . .

I'm not sure if this is a win for Dems or Republicans. What I do know is I am tired of hearing about experience. Experience is knowing not to make the same mistake twice. As a USN veteran I'm more concerned about why the VA medical facilities are atrocious. Also why it is hard to find a decent doctor in the VA healthcare system. As a POW I would think that would be foremost on the minf of Senator McCain and after twenty something years I don't see any signs of improvement. Please someone address issues that are real to Americans and quit talking about experience and taking potshots at each other. If you want change let's change that.

McCain couldn't have selected someone with much less qualification if he'd chosen the student body president of a large college. This selection is an insult to anyone, Republican or Democrat, who is genuinely concerned about the country and the wrong track it's been on for the past 8 years. It's especially an affront to women who supported Hillary; he seems to believe that all it takes to gain their support is to have a woman, any woman, on his ticket. There were many more qualified women he could have chosen - I'm shocked at his incredibly poor judgment, and absolutely voting for Obama/Biden.

Mr. Capehart, I don't know how your Republican friend computes experience, but eight years as mayor of a very small town and governor of a state with a popultion less than several U.S. cities for 19 months hardly harldy equates to Obama's seven years experience in the Illinois state legislature and almost four years as a U.S. senator. He also was a community organizer in Chicago, a practicing civil rights attorney, and taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago. He has a B.A. from Cornell and a law degree from Harvard, and she is more experienced than he? Well, I don't think he was ever in a beauty pagent. Come on, tell your friend to get real. This is like saying a champion go-kart driver has the experience of a NASCAR driver, any NASCAR driver, or the king of the local putt-putt golf course is on a par with Tiger Woods. Time in grade is not sufficient to establish the quality of experience; also cogent is the scope of the position, i.e., its depth and breadth.

I am a 50 year old woman, first class of women from Notre Dame with a law degree and an adopted child. Our little angel is truly a gift from God.I believe women, mothers can do anything; however, being a mother comes before anything else. A mother of five with a newborn...great, but is this the appropriate time in her life to hit the campaign trail, be a heartbeat away from the presidency? I applaud her gumption, her fire, but I think her time is not now.

Here we go again...candidates with "executive experience" are better qualified to be president of the USA. There must be some truth to that; God only knows what shape the country would be in today if, say, an eight-year VP with 16 years experience in Congress had been elected in 2000 instead of the man who was governor of Texas for six years.

I haven't had a chance to check every source, but I don't think a less experienced individual has ever been chosen by any party, going back to the establishment of the republic, to represent it for the office of President or Vice president? Lincoln comes close in regard to experience in public office, but he had a fairly long career as a practicing attorney. Obama is more experienced than either.

This woman is seeking fame, fortune, recognition. Don't forget the possibility of her getting all those federal pension benefits. Why would you leave your 4 month old child to go on the campaign trail for 2 months with no guarantee of political success/winning? Who is she thinking of, herself! Maybe her child who will need lots of medical and specialized care. Anti-abortion? Creationist? Experience? Doing what? Getting rid of dead wood in Alaska? Trying to be exempt from the law for his sister's sake? Sounds like a female Cheney in training. Hope she can shoot straight and not hit a judge on the way to the White House. Believe your dead in the Alaskian straights, McSame!

"This is like saying a champion go-kart driver has the experience of a NASCAR driver, any NASCAR driver, or the king of the local putt-putt golf course is on a par with Tiger Woods. Time in grade is not sufficient to establish the quality of experience; also cogent is the scope of the position, i.e., its depth and breadth."

Couldn't have said it better. Palin is barely qualified to run a major American CITY, much less be Veep.

I guess Obama had to get a Harvard law degree because the University of Idaho's standards were too high.

she thinks entering beauty contests is a worthy endeavor for females and wants Hillary's voters? the irony is palpable.

she says she knows nothing about foreign policy, hasn't been following the Iraq war and is 18 months from being the mayor of a town smaller than my high school.

the press is sorting out whether her claim to have opposed the bridge to nowhere and earmarks. apparently she was for it when the earmark was available before she was against it.

executive experience? she governs a state that doesn't even have to worry about balancing the budget with tax hikes or spending cuts because they have so much oil revenue they don't have an income tax and can't spend enough not to have cash left over to write checks to the citizens.

a reformer? her ex brother in law may be an evil person, but using her office to fire a commissioner for not firing her sister's husband is obviously unethical.

The Palin woman belongs at home with her special needs child! These hypocrite "family values" Republicans never cease to amaze me. She is not qualified to be President in the event of McCain having a serious health issue. The presidency is a very demanding job and the McCain/Palin ticket cannot live up to the demands of the job. I was on the fence on this election, but no more and even my Republican husband has decided to go with Obama/Biden after McCain's pick today. I hope the American women don't fall for this cheap pandering today! We are smarter than that!

McCain doesn't know Palin. You can tell when he introduced her. Watch the video He looks down to read her name. Her Husband never met McCain. You can tell by the reception he receives at the end of his wife's speech. McCain choice was made for one reason only. He didn't care about Mrs Palin who is a bright woman, he only cared about himself. He did even give it a thought if something (God forbid) was to happen to him that she would become the President of the United States, whether she was an apprentice or not. He didn't care about all the lack of experience statements he made against Obama. He made a defensive move and almost blew it by releasing her name on the night of Obama's speech. Who knows who or what stopped him but still there is only one reason Mrs Palin was selected as VP.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T ed.. Not Used:
Anybody seen the movie "Hustle and Flow."
Terrance Howard was nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
for: Hustle & Flow (2005)
McCain has Terrance beat by a long shot. After Mrs. Palin's speech they might as well played the theme song "It's hard out here for a pimp." Mrs Palin and women are being used.. period.
Woman deserve better treatment and need to be respected, not used.

When thinking of Palin I am reminded of the GOP partisan who was hiring people for work in Iraq, Kate O'Beirne's husband. He didn't ask about their skills. He was more interested in the level of their support for George Bush and their position on Roe Vs Wade. Come to think of it, the same thing happened in the Justice Dept with Monica Goodling doing the screening.

So now we have another example of McCain/Bush administration similarities. McCain picked this lady largely because it ingratiated him with the extreme right wing. She passed the philosophical test. She doesn't have a jot of international experience and would make a horribly ignorant President. But she is pro-life so of course, she's acceptable to the GOP.

Alaska Business Monthly, 2007
"How do you {Governor Palin} feel about sending more troops into battle, as President Bush is suggesting?

Palin: I've been so focused on state government, I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq."

Yes, ladies and gentlement, she hasn't focused on the war in Iraq. I find that rather bizarre since I don't know of a SINGLE American who hasn't made some decision about the war in Iraq but here we are, an actual governor hasn't focused on it! Gee I wonder if she finally focused when she realized one of her KIDS was going there (assuming she didn't know at the time of the interview).

I also find it strange that is Palin being called a staunch feminist with the only explanation of why this title applies to her that I have heard being "she has five children and one of them has Down Syndrome." That's like calling me a feminist because I don't have to shave my face. Woop-dee-doo. I'm not saying she HAS to be a feminist, but what's with trying to make her into one (and no Hillary supporters are seriously not that stupid, no matter what the Republicans think)?

What kind of sick woman leaves her 4 month old baby with Down Syndrome in order to hit the campaign trail?

Posted by: Anonymous | August 29, 2008 1:52 PM

Um - would you say that if she was the dad?

And the 'analysis' that people out there are saying how wonderful she is because she did not abort her baby with down's syndrome? How amazingly condescending. There are plenty of women out there who are 100% pro-choice who have not aborted their babies with down's as well.

Ok, let's all take a deep breath here. First, let's all agree that McCain made a tactful choice. This is after all an election and to win you must get the votes. He believes Palin will attract some votes from somewhere. My problem is that I don't know enough about her. Who really knows her? So she was mayor of her hometown, population 6,000 and she just became Governor of Alaska, big whoop! Do you really see her possibly becoming Commander in Chief? Leading this great nation? Being the world leader? Sorry, but I don't. It's too late in the game to vote for a wannabe VP/President that we know nothing about! I don't know what McCain is thinking? This seems like a desperate move in my opinion.

"A woman who refused to abort her baby born with Down Syndrome is more impressive than a man who refuses to acknowledge his Muslim upbringing.Posted by: Jai kholsa"

___It's good that she allowed her son with Downs Syndrome to be born. Bad that she left him to go back to the office, and worse that she will use him to boost McCain.

Who cares what religion someone espouses or was brought up in? Especially who cares what they were brought up in? Nobody gets to choose what their parents do with them in their childhood. That's not even in the same category of analysis with protecting the life of an unborn child, except for a religious bigot.

But she has a crummy education and crummy experience and there is a tipline in Alaska for information about her abuse of power. She's ignorant of foreign relations and doesn't know what the vice president's duties are. I suppose that has some appeal for the neo-con handlers McCain needs off his back, a malleable opportunist is a good resource for the powermad.

So, compare a person with a Yale degree, law degree, experience in state legislature and the US Senate, a guy who has experience in community organizing and service, who at least had high SAT scores and the tenacity to graduate on time to a woman who got lucky when an old guy couldn't stomach the Freudian challenge of having a qualified man or woman (Dole, Whitman, Hutchison - Romney, anybody with an MBA or national office)as his second/replacement.

He probably hopes her lousy parenting and her twinkly earrings will distract everyone from his age, nastiness, and ignorance about economics, modern information processing hardware, and the income levels of the middle class.

I am amazed by the women who profess support for Hillary Clinton but persist in what can only be characterized as obsessive compulsive behavior bordering on the delusional. The primary is over. Your candidate lost. You are poor losers with no regard for rules or order. When you lose, you shake your opponent's hand and prepare for your next contest. Move on.

And one last thing thing on Palin, she is an unprincipled selfish woman who referred to her now heroine, Hillary, as an insufferable whiner. What kind of family values does she display by allowing someone else to care for her "perfect" infant?

These Republicans are really a facile cynical bunch who deserve to have an adulterous agnostic like McCain as their presidential candidate.

Please Republicans explain how Karl Rove can continue to trumpet family values and be his party's theoretican having been raised by a step-father who was a homosexual penis piercing pioneer. Try saying that fast three times.

I am amazed by the women who profess support for Hillary Clinton but persist in what can only be characterized as obsessive compulsive behavior bordering on the delusional. The primary is over. Your candidate lost. You are poor losers with no regard for rules or order. When you lose, you shake your opponent's hand and prepare for your next contest. Move on.

And one last thing thing on Palin, she is an unprincipled selfish woman who referred to her now heroine, Hillary, as an insufferable whiner. What kind of family values does she display by allowing someone else to care for her "perfect" infant?

These Republicans are really a facile cynical bunch who deserve to have an adulterous agnostic like McCain as their presidential candidate.

Please Republicans explain how Karl Rove can continue to trumpet family values and be his party's theoretican having been raised by a step-father who was a homosexual penis piercing pioneer. Try saying that fast three times.

I just saw Susan Molinari on MSNBC (taped earlier) sputtering to the effect that, it's okay to have a male presidential candidate with little experience but not a female vp candidate? Here's the difference: we chose Obama. The voters. He rose to national prominence in 2004 not just on a speech, but on a vision and leadership skills. He has been tested in the crucible of this campaign and relentless exposure and pressure. And he won. Sarah Palin, who has many fine attributes, has little experience, albeit exec experience, way off the radar. We did not choose her. A man who says experience and judgment are paramount chose her. And it exposes his lifelong penchant for risk-taking behavior. Not in a good way.

What kind of family values does she display by allowing someone else to care for her "perfect" infant?

Posted by: JH Brooks | August 29, 2008 9:44 PM

That is one of the most insensitive things I've ever heard. Would you say that about someone if they were male? That's number one. Number two: Apparently, her husband and her share (*gasp*) the responsibilities of caring for THEIR children. And she has a crib in her office, so her child is with her - AND - apparently, she takes the baby with her many places...obviously, she can't do that for too too much longer...but still.

All we have to do to understand the appeal of an ignorant, conservative Gov., is to remember the appeal of George Bush in 2000. Nobody cared that he was drunk most of his spare time, and the rest of his time in college, he got 'C's. This mediocre female has him outclassed. At least she kicked some corrupt asses out of local politics and had more babies than Laura did. And she has no issues with avoiding the draft, hey, she was busy with motherhood and beauty pageants. It's just frightening that someone like this can rise so far, as we have seen the damage done in the world, from Bush and company's ineptitude.

McCain had that "passed over" commercial about Hillary, then he passes over qualified men and picks this lady with no experience.
How hypocritic can you get? A person who really cared about justice would or about gender issues would not pick a person just based on gender.

On Experience: Could Sarah Palin have run a national campaign against the Bush/Rove machine and won? Obama WON against the Clinton machine........that is no mean feat. And anyone who dismisses that is underestimating him and his experience.

Along w/ his legislative experience, Obama's experience as a Constitutional law professor is important b/c he actually KNOWS what is in the Constitution, unlike our current Administration and most of Congress.

Governor Palin seems to have a compelling story and appears likeable enough. I'm sure she'll provide some temporary excitement to the Republican ticket. But as we all knew before the veepstakes hit their climax recently, we're gonna talk about this for a couple of weeks, and then it's back to the people at the top of the ticket.

Sooner or later, this election will return to the issues, and when it comes to the issues, the Republicans are losing across the board. Its the reason why the McCain campaign has been trying to trump up the experience card and make everyone scared of Obama. Today they undercut that argument, and it will cost them in the long run.

A VG point Kathleen! Feminists -- and I consider myself a true one, having always supported myself and mine, and asked for help from no one -- might sputter such drivel. It IS drivel, because we are being forced to swallow this local politician along with John McCain. Personally, I'm gagging. Perhaps she is only a temporary pick, to show his open-mindedness, and after a couple of weeks of campaigning, she will sadly, regretfully, bow out in favor of her children's upbringing. Naaah, I'm dreaming.

As a former Republican I can only say....WOW...will they ever stop screwing things up.
John McCains lack of judgement is frightening. He insults the intelligence of the women who supported Hillary.Does he actually believe that choosing a female with totally opposing views to Hillary's will make us want to vote for him(them).
I question his judgement and hers. What mother drags out her four month old Downs Syndrome infant before thousands of people, tv cameras and the press?
Is she using that poor little thing to get sympathy or to make us think she can do anything. Bad decision.... who's best interest does she have at heart?

Palin is an excellent pick and shows that this election really will be different from those past.

The Obamacrats were hoping to run against the same old white guy insiders the Republicans put usually put up. They thought wrong.

Obama has no record. Palin took on the biggest fatcats in Alaska politics and whooped them, and has worked to root out scumbags from the most corrupt state in the country after Louisiana.

It really is great to see how ticked off the Dems are about this choice. "An intelligent, driven, successful woman, we thought we had that niche covered" they're screaming.

As for the fact that she's from Alaska and that somehow being governor of a small state "doesn't count" as some Obamacrats are arguing -that's just absurd. Palin is real change and a real outsider, unlike Obama the poser. My $$$ and my vote are now going to McCain-Palin.

McCain picked her JUST because she's a woman, pandering to both women and hard core conservatives. And he made his pick today, in an attempt to take attention off of the extremely successful convention, especially Obama's acceptance speech.
The problem is, over 40 million people saw the speech, most women are going to see this pick for the pandering it is, and people are going to understand that her positions and lack of experience are hugely troubling.
Add to that, she comes with a built in scandal of her own (abusing her power to remove a public servant to settle a personal score), and close association with the outrageously corrupt Alaska Republican party (do you really think it's going to be that hard to tie her to Veco and Stevens?).
I think you Republicans should be scared as hell. Not because you might lose the Presidency, but because if you do get it, the guy who made this decision will be making life or death decisions on behalf of our Nation. Its not a pretty thought.

This pick shows an alarming lack of judgement and disrespect for voters. Selecting Gov Palin is a transparent effort to woo disenfranchised Hillary voters but most of them are smart enough to see the ruse. I don't doubt Gov Palin is a good and decent person. But to select someone clearly unqualified to be the proverbial heartbeat away simply to help energize a moribund campaign strikes me as irresponsible at best.

I never realized how many bigoted, mean sprited, sexist people there are in the Democratic party. Their brutal-hate to see what their plan is(or final solution) to do to the Neo-con/Jews they express so much hatred for.

It's the least McCain can do, to please the conservative base if not by himself, than in his VP pick. For a projected one-termer, they're going for the best stop-gap possible. Come 2012 Republicans can reload with some hopefully scandal-free stock.

What no one seems to acknowledge in the Obama "experience" argument vs McCain is the obvious fact that Obama has created and run the most brilliant political machine and campaign in modern presidential history. It's been almost flawless in execution, tone, and voice. Good luck to McCain. He's toast.

___It's probably the result of having had a constitution before the 1960s. And knowing that we can always start walking north if things get really bad here - or get Quebec to at least send us water and hydropower.

Or it could be from having the Canadians always ready to fall in line if we squeeze hard enough.

I was comfortable with Hillary and I was comfortable with McCain. Strange, I know. I just believe that local gov. has more to do with our day to day lives than national gov. does. The president is to protect us from outside threats, in my view. All the rest of the presidential posturing is for nothing, because if the elected reps in congress won't go for it, and the local gov.s won't go for it, it's not gonna happen. For me, the national election is all about trust, and who has the experience and can be trusted. Nothing substitutes for experience, and McCain has forfeited his one big advantage here. I trust Biden more than I trust Palin. I feel apolitical, if I were younger maybe I'd feel more indignant against Palin's assault on my choice, but since I'm past caring about that, other things are more important. Guess I'll go with Obama-Biden. It's safer.

Thank you Jeffrey Campbell. As a woman I feel completely disrespected, and yes, I see it for the pandering it is. John McCain must think we are a subhuman species. Plus he doesn't want just any woman, oh, no, they all have to be beauty queens. I have noticed that as only an aging woman who has seen better days would do.

Also speaking as a woman I have far more respect for Senator Joe Biden who said, "they can get a senator, but my sons only have one father." Now that is putting family first, and that is something I honor---not a woman giving a speech after her water broke or getting on the campaign trail even though she has an infant child.
I believe we should look at people as human beings. Senator Biden's actions tell me a lot about him, and Sarah Palin's tell me about her. I will be voting Obama/Biden.
These men have the character I want to see in a president.

Funny no mentions the obvious about this woman. She is seen as the hot Governor. Her looks are her strongest suit. But the twisted and cynical American press can never break down things simply for the public. Guys were posting her picture at a basketball site last year.

"Posted by Jeffrey Campbell: McCain picked her JUST because she's a woman, pandering to both women and hard core conservatives. And he made his pick today, in an attempt to take attention off of the extremely successful convention, especially Obama's acceptance speech."

____He HAD to announce her today: On Monday he will be in Minnesota, where the governor who chaired McCain's election committee was on his short-list and probably needed a couple days to recover from this snub - imagine having now to be the gracious host in Saint Paul (where, btw, ordinary citizens are having their cameras and cell phones confiscated as they walk the public streets near the convention location - it's a very small downtown district, so everywhere is near the RNC space.).

He had to make his pick because he was running out of time - and this was the best he could come up with. Republican women who actually accomplished something and built the party must be gnashing their teeth at this cynical ploy.

"Even if McCain becomes gravely ill, she will still be surrounded by advisors. She did graduate from college with a minor in political science, which would indicate that she has a longtime interest in political matters, probably reading and analyzing much over the many years since college. That mindset, ever sharpening, is critical in such an executive level position. She seems both tough and intelligent. I was waiting to see who McCain picked for a running mate because voting for Biden was looking a probability. I mean that, voting for Biden in the sense that I think he has the guts to help keep Obama in line. Looks like I'll be voting for Palin now, in the sense that I think that she has the guts to help keep McCain in line."

Posted by: Elizabeth | August 29, 2008 1:40 PM

Sorry, Elizabeth, but nobody keeps John McCain in line except John McCain. Palin will be the least powerful VP in decades, with virtually no input on decisions. She will be a photo-op VP running out to PTA meetings. The country needs and deserves someone better than this.

wow. A so-called hot woman in her 40's with several children? Whose husband had to put the screws to the state trooper's boss? Now McCain obviously is pandering to women. Dumb women, as anyone who supported Hillary is not about to vote for this striped-hair figment of some political advisor's image of "strong woman." Give it up, McCain, better to pick someone you can respect, and none of us believe it's the governor of Alaska. Bad try; fire someone and try again. Maybe the voters will forgive and try to forget.

LOL. Sarah Palin can cook. She can clean. She can fish. She can hunt. She can play point guard. She can balance the state budget. She took on the old boy network. She faced down the oil industry in a state where they are the industry. She sold the state jet and flies commercial. She drives herself to work every day. She's nursing a baby while sending a son to go fight in Iraq. She's giving a 1200 dollar oil dividend to her state citizens. She even looks hot in a suit!

You Dems are in BIG trouble. Looks like old McCain has picked Wonder Woman for the job.

Now, now, people. There is nothing wrong with this person, FOR ALASKA. If I lived there, hellacious bells, I am sure I would vote for her myself and be rooting for her and for my $1200 a year from the state government. I'd be tickled she ran the corrupt men out of office, and bygawd, she has the right to use her influence to protect her defenseless sister against an armed state trooper. This lil lady should stay in Alaska, and she is right for Alaska. She's not right for the whole country, besides she'd miss the snowmobiles and moose hunting, not to mention her kids would start acting up (& maybe that husband, too) if she's gone enough to do the job McCain wants her to do. Let her alone, and let the people who elected her, benefit. Anyone in McCain & Co listening???

Okay...she thinks she SHOULDN'T have the choice to have or not have a child...and then makes a big deal about choosing to have a child. If she feels she can't be trusted making that choice, why should I trust her with the magic nuke button?

I have a feeling that we are going to learn in coming weeks that Palin is a driven, intelligent, no-nonsense, dynamic, confident and impressive woman. I John Kerry could muster up as much support as he had four years ago I think Palin should be given at least the respect that she is a capable person. Apparently she showed up in the state capital of AK and cut out a bunch of waste and overspending. Isn't that what DC needs? My friends on the other side of the aisle are begging for change, I think she represents change. A woman pushing her way around DC. I'm a conservative and I'm all for it. We need that on Capital Hill - someone without preconcieved affiliations or expectations. The mere fact that few know what they are getting into with her might very well wake many out-of-touch congressman and woman on the Hill. It's time for a fresh approach and I'm excited that it will be the Republican Party that is going to be the party to break that glass ceiling. Good for her and good for McCain. Stay tuned - she's going to impress you!

I have often been surprised by the inanity and strangeness of the world. Now, I am rendered almost speechless. Is anyone qualified to run the country now? I simply cannot believe this choice. This is grossly irresponsible. McCain might win. This person could become President of the United States. That matters, doesn't it?

OK, the Republican Party has been mouthing off for years on "family values" "family first" and all that goes with it. So, if elected, how does Sarah Palin plan to really be there for her 4 children still at home, including a baby, with her husband working his job in Alaska and her responsibilities in Washington, D. C., as the Vice President of the United States? Sorry, I don't care how capable she may be either her children/marriage or we the citizens will be shortchanged.

I am still shocked, not just because I think this is the most ridiculous choice ever for vp pick, but what kind of a Mother who I heard is still breast-feeding leave her down syndrome 4 month old newborn, to campaign for a losing battle,
but I should learn not to expect more from the GOP party. shameless....

This woman's life makes for interesting reading. However, she has 5 children, the youngest a babe of a few months with Down's. Now, if she is conservative enough and conventional enough to have this large family and if the family is her number one priority, how does the possiblity of being 2nd in command (with the possiblity of being commander in chief) make any sense for her at this particular time in her life. Ten years from now, it might be an option. The timing is not right for her or this nation this time around. For McCain to even ask her (which I'm sure was very flattering and it sure would be hard to turn your party down when it is telling you how much it needs you) shows just how desperate and selfish he and the republican party are. No, she is allowing herself to be used and at a time when she should be protecting that baby, he will be exploited.

"Palin is under investigation for allegedly using her position to try to can her ex-brother-in-law from a state trooper job. "
Let me get this straight - they nominated someone under investigation for abusing the powers of her elected office?
Who made this VP selection, Dick Cheney?

The Obama crowd seems nonplussed with the announcement of Sarak Palin as McCain's VP. They believe McCain's criticism of Obama's lack of experience has been neutralized. Wrong! Unless Obama's prayer that McCain dies soon after getting elected comes true!

Palin buttresses McCain's ticket three ways. First it signals that Republicans ingeneral, McCain in particular are not risk averse the way Obama was in ignoring Hillary and favoring the OLD boring Biden. Second it signals Hillary supporters they now have a real reason to vote McCain instead of Obama who stole the nomination from Hillary. Third it energizes the conservative base of the Republican party who may have some misgivings about McCain's own commitment to their causes.

And when it comes to competing with Biden, Palin scores as she has executive experience against NIL for Biden who has spent a lifetime talking not doing anything and taking accountability for his ACTIONS!!

As for the inexperienced Palin being a heartbeat away from the Presidency, there is a greater chance of Biden croaking before Obama and the tough Navy hand McCain out living the "super fit" (narcissist???) Obama!

Anonymous-
Yeah, I have the stones to put my name on a blog post. I stand by what I say, and I'm not ashamed to say it, or ashamed to identify myself with my party.
Sarah Palin could probably smoke on the court, but I'm willing to bet I'm a better shot.

I'm Democrat and delighted with the Palin pick. It proves unequivocally that McCain should not be president because he is a complete knucklehead. He could've chosen Liz Dole, a full package, veteran, stud politician with impeccable credential--not to mention stellar name recognition with the party. WHo does he pick--Palin. Palin who??? Pass the Aricept to Senator McCain and swear in Obama-Biden.

McCain's pick of Palin indicates that he is conceding the race. Fed up with party elders, this is McCain's attempt to bring new legions of social minded right wing members to the Republican party. On the McCain - Palin ticket, no sane would put an untested small town official one stroke away from the Oval Office.

McCain had some semblance of respect from me before he went off the deep end with his pick of this woman Palin as his choice for VP. Now I'm not so sure. It seemed like a desperate ploy for attention. I am looking for a grounded person to lead as president, someone who mulls over and comes up with balanced decisions. This decision displays a wild left field attitude I would rather avoid in the presidency. If he thinks he's going to get my 'female' vote by his brash move, he's dead wrong. Just because she's a woman doesn't mean she has the ability to lead. Two years in charge of a small state doesn't come near what we need to run this nation. If his health makes a turn for the worst, trust me! I sure hope she won't be the one picking up that phone at 3 a.m. And honestly, as a liberal career woman and single parent, I'm not all that impressed with a woman who would devote so much of her time to her career when her child has special needs. I would argue a respect for life must be present after birth as much she she would argue we must respect life prior to birth. Bottomline, I am not at all impressed with this 'brash' move. I see it more as a crap shoot gimmick and my respect for him has dropped considerably.

Palin has much more executive experience than Obama. He has been a senator for a little more than three years and has been campaigning for two years now.

In the Illinois Senate, he voted present many more times than for or against anything.

He has never managed anything and to compare his experience with any Governor shows him to be lacking.

In addition to this, Joe Biden has been in Washington for 35 years and is part of the problem, not the solution. If he wanted to make any changes, he would have spoken out long ago. He is a poor choice for Obama who is talking of change.

This move by McCain will bring the conservative base back home and pick up independents as well as more women because she represents real change. Obama's speech in Denver was simply more of the same Liberal talk of the past several elections. Nothing new there and nothing substantial.

He just doesn't have it and Biden doesn't help him at all. Where were all the old time Democrats who should have spoke up for him??? They just weren't there. Who would listen to anything Ted Kennedy would say. He can't even drive over a bride drunk.

The Demos have done it again. Nominated a extreme left wing Liberal and that will insure their loss in November.

McCain promised: The only consideration he would make when choosing a VP was their readiness to assume the job of President.

Karl Rove warned several times that Barack Obama would put political expediency above wisdom in his choice for VP:

In arguing that Obama would pick Tim Kaine for VP, governor of the state of Virginia, with far more experience than Palin, Rove exclaimed:

'I think he's going to make an intensely political choice, not a governing choice," Rove said. "He's going to view this through the prism of a candidate, not through the prism of president; that is to say, he's going to pick somebody that he thinks will on the margin help him in a state like Indiana or Missouri or Virginia. He's not going to be thinking big and broad about the responsibilities of president.'

Well it was McCain who went back on his word and did this instead of Obama, for even slimmer reasons than winning a state. He's still trying to lash up his base.

Indeed, the only Constitutional FUNCTION of the VP's office is to provide for succession in the event that the President dies or is incapacitated.

Let's hear from Palin:

"What is it exactly that the vice president does all day?" Palin offhandedly asked CNBC anchor Larry Kudlow in July. Kudlow explained that the job has become more important in recent years.

The gyrations Republicans are going through to try to spin this are something to see. They've always been dumba$$es who salute whatever is run up the flagpole. As evidence, look who they voted into office the last two times. And the suckers will continue to fall for it. Even as they lose their jobs, their retirement funds, their healthcare, everything! All you have to do is say "abortion", and they are yours to command.

Like many of you, I was shocked, then dumbfounded, then angry about McCain's choice. Affirmative action flies in the face of justice, and I wouldn't vote for a token V.P. anymore than I'd vote for a token President (the only thing that seems very "historic" about either Palin or Obama).

Then I read Palin's biography, researched her background, fumed for another four hours, and found much to admire. Is she as good a choice as Mitt Romney? Probably not. Does she benefit the ticket (and the country) in other ways? Yes, she probably does.

And let's remember -- we're electing both a teacher and a student. One ticket has the experienced candidate at the top -- the other ticket puts the novice forth as commander in chief (yikes).

The issue here isn't experience (which McCain has, and Obama doesn't) or judgement (which McCain has demonstrated and Obama has demonstrated he lacks). The real issue is, well, the issues. Obama is simply on the wrong side of taxataion, entitlements, energy, and foreign policy.

Hollow promises of new payoffs (socialist bribes, really) to low-income voters, higher taxes that result in job loss and economic downturn, a lunatic energy policy -- and no way to pay for ANY of it. That's what's really wrong with Obama. Americans aren't that stupid (we hope).

Bottom line? Obama's plans for America are wrong. The problem is not his INABILITY to perform, it is his INTENT to make the wrong choices.

McCain's choice of a Palin for V.P. is just one more small plus in his column. A smaller plus, I think, than Romney would have been, but a plus nonetheless.

CalRed's argument about experience, being made by all the morons tonight, is idiotic on face value.

And the reason is simple. What kind of things do Presidents need to know about? Just about foreign policy, Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, China... economic policy, energy, education, taxes, health care, nuclear proliferation, terrorism. Obama has this knowledge, has written carefully thoughtfully,and extensively on these problems and what he would do about them. Has passed bills on them in the Senate, and travelled to countries such as some of the aforementioned, to pass extremely important legislation on removing lose nuclear materials that could otherwise find its way into a terrorist bomb,for instance.

But wait, Palin knows energy, doesn't she? Yep, on Charlie Rose she claimed there was enough oil in Alaska to significantly ease the energy crisis. Probably agrees with that preacher up there who says there is enough to supply the US for 200 years - more than in Saudia Arabia! Obama got that one right too - you can drill, but its only a stopgap measure.

Suppose McCain keels over shortly after getting into office. People my age and his know plenty of people that this has happened to. Palin is completely at the mercy of McCain's advisers. A rubber stamp with the frustrating feeling that she is in way over her head. In even a worse position than Bush, who at least knew his advisers from the beginning, since they were also his father's.

Voters, you think it can't get worse than Bush? Think again, it can, if you listen to these jerks. Read Jonathan Alter instead:
http://www.newsweek.com/id/156258

"Certainly Palin will be open to charges of inexperience in national security, but McCain will simply say that the Republicans put their national security experience at the top of the ticket, while the Democrats put theirs at the bottom."
ezr1

I've still yet to understand this argument. How does it make sense to have all of your experience at the top of the ticket rather than at the bottom? The point with Biden is that he can be an aid to Obama while he is governing, and can take over if necessary. Now if something were to happen to McCain what good is his experience then? She'd be on her own which is potentially dangerous.

Yup, Obama is wrong on the issues. That's why the last eight years were so much better than the Clinton years. You think anyone would believe that? You conservatives are the ones just like Communists. The useful idiots used to argue that Socialism was good, the Soviets just didn't get it right. You do the same for conservatism. All it has led to is multibillion dollar scandals and huge deficits. And now you've been all for handing the President unlimited power as well. Just like a bunch of Communists.

I would love to know whether the posts supposedly written by women who supported Hillary and now supposedly support Palin are any more authentic than the phoney papers forged by the Bush administration to create an impression that Al Queda was friends with Saddam Hussein.

Why can't the federal government stop trying to legislate "abortion" (which I personally believe our government should not restrict, but should also never assist at taxpayer expense, as it is basically an elective surgery).

Sarah Palin probably illustrates the painful dilemma that surrounds abortion in a way that virtually every woman should be able to identify with.

She believed in "choice" enough to have a test for Down's done -- opening herself to the very painful choice of whether to proceed with the pregnancy. She them demonstrated her very personal belief in "life", and made her own (I'm sure anguished) decision. It's a decision I'm glad I've never had to make.

Is there a woman in America who can't respect the private, personal nature of her decision -- whether they would have come to the same conclusion or not?

Shame on the partisan bloggers who criticize Palin for "leaving her special needs child" to campaign for national office". Do pro-choicers think she should have aborted her little boy instead, so that she could devote more time to politics? Do fundamentalists believe she should stay home and care for her child, despite the commitments she made to those who elected her?

That child has a father and other family members to help care for him. Governor Palin has an opportunity to campaign for an office (and a President) that will make a difference for her own children and millions of our children as well.

I applaud her willingness to serve, and offer a "no comment, no judgement" on her personal reproductive choices.

And one last correction -- Palin is in no way an "accidental" governor of Alaska. She wasn't appointed -- she was elected by a majority of Alaskan voters. She purposefully took on a corrupt REPUBLICAN incumbent, got little support from her own party, and defeated him in the primary. She then soundly defeated a much better funded Democratic challenger in the general election. This may foreshadow things to come in 2008.

Once elected, she (legally) threw out her corrupt predecessor's appointees, sold the pork-barrel governor's $2.1 million private jet (on Ebay, no less), cut spending, reduced taxes, and cancelled the "bridge to nowhere" project, a Washington MISTAKE which Washington couldn't seem to correct. (All this during her first year in office). During that same year, Obama passed ethics reform legislation (despite his own ties to people like Rezko). Obama talks the talk -- but Palin actually DID something about eliminating corruption and bringing ethics to public office.

Palin's core values are no accident either. You can teach an honest person to do the V.P.'s job ... you can't teach new values and core beliefs to a dishonest politician after he's elected. Palin and McCain get my vote.

Vocal Palin critics from both parties may want to sleep (and study) on this for 24 hours. Republicans may find (as I did) that they'll warm up to Palin. Democrats may find -- if they treat Palin with the same venomous disregard and dishonesty they offered Hillary -- that their numbers will dwindle significantly by November 4th. (Which, frankly, is fine by me).

Good choice in Palin, people do not change. If you stand up to big oil in Alaska, you will stand up to big politics in Washington. Palin has demonstrated character, something Washington wont easily change. Two points for McCain!!

This really makes McCain look like the deceiver he really is. First it looked like Pawlenty then Romney, then out of far right field he chooses Palin. Being a democrat I think it is handing Obama the Whitehouse. I felt sorry for Romney and Pawlenty. They were told to clear their schedules and then McCain suckerpunches them. What a putz! It shows just how he'd run the country. Say one thing and do another. He really is the same as Bush and this proves it.

Right wing radio wants sooooo hard to make listeners think this was a good pick when they now it will be a disaster. Michael Savage, who may not have as many listeners as Rush but still has a commanding audience is livid. Unlike Limbaugh, Savage has his own mind and is a more traditional conservative. People listen to him and I think he may be able to affect this election.

I really think the political candidates running for office are a moot point. The fact is, no political party has controlled the White house for more than 8 years since Franklin Roosevelt. Add to that, the fact that George Bush has the lowest approval rating of any President in history, and you have an overwhelming push to "throw the bums out." I have lived a long time, and I can say that the state of this nation is worse than at any time in recent history. I say that The Dems could offer up Donald Duck and he would probably win. Obama is right...enough. Republicans have had eight years, their time is up, game over.

As a resident of IL I find it funny that everyone says look how much Obama has accomplished. He may hold the record in the IL senate for voting Present. I can't think of one think he has done for this state. He is nothing more than a Chicago Democratic Machine Pawn. Show us what you have done Barack, you media is waiting.

At first I thought that McCain had finally lost all his marbles,in picking a rank amateur with no national experience. After doing a little research, however, and after watching Maria Bartiromo's interview with the new Governor of Alaska, it is apparent to me that the old man did not make this choice after all.

The choice was made for him by the same people that brought us George Bush and Dick Cheney- None other than the people who brought us the war in Iraq. Big oil.

The whole Bartiromo/Palin interview is propaganda for big oil. and drilling in the Anwr. She is simply a shill for the big oil companies posing as a hockey mom. Her husband has worked for British Petroleum for over 20 years, and she was put into office to carry out their policies.

Drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge is environmenatally courting disaster, and it simply won't lower the price of oil.

It is extremely costly to drill this way, and to have the oil travel thousands of miles through a pipeline that must be heated and constantly monitored is expensive and dangerous. It can never be cost competitive over sources in the middle east which can pump their oil at a fraction of the cost of either Anwr or offshore. The price of oil indeed is not determined by short term supply and demand as Sarah says, but by the hedge fund speculators and the obscene profits that the majors have decided that they can get away with in Bush's last days in office.

When Bush started the war in Iraq the price was $1.75 per gallon. Iraq was pumping over 3,000,000 gallons a day and selling it outside the OPEC cartel. When we invaded, it took the cheap oil off the market allowing OPEC to raise the price. It was indeed a war about the control of oil- not about WMD's, freedom, or the security of America.

Palin uses all the oil trade slang like "oil hungry," to make the case for her persistent call for expanded drilling. Has she forgotten what the Exxon Valdez did to the Native American fishermen? It will happen again.

Big oil made Bush governor of Texas, then President of the United States. Now it is trying to put McSame and Palin in office to carry out their business for them.

It is not about electing a woman, it is simply about electing people friendly to the oil cartels.

Read the book "Sarah", by Kaylene Johnson, published by Epicenter Press. You will discover that this woman has had life experiences beyond the wildest imagination of anyone within the beltline and is extremely well-equipped for the challenges of the office of Vice-President.

As for the comment that Obama's hometown of Chicago has more people than the state of Alaska, this would be relevant if Obama actually ran the City of Chicago .. or anything else. Her administrative experience is arguably greater than the entire Democratic ticket.

Read the book "Sarah", by Kaylene Johnson, published by Epicenter Press. You will discover that this woman has had life experiences beyond the wildest imagination of anyone within the beltline and is extremely well-equipped for the challenges of the office of Vice-President.

As for the comment that Obama's hometown of Chicago has more people than the state of Alaska, this would be relevant if Obama actually ran the City of Chicago .. or anything else. Her administrative experience is arguably greater than the entire Democratic ticket.

At first I thought that McCain had finally lost all his marbles,in picking a rank amateur with no national experience. After doing a little research, however, and after watching Maria Bartiromo's interview with the new Governor of Alaska, it is apparent to me that the old man did not make this choice after all.

The choice was made for him by the same people that brought us George Bush and Dick Cheney- None other than the people who brought us the war in Iraq. Big oil.

The whole Bartiromo/Palin interview is propaganda for big oil. and drilling in the Anwr. She is simply a shill for the big oil companies posing as a hockey mom. Her husband has worked for British Petroleum for over 20 years, and she was put into office to carry out their policies.

Drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge is environmenatally courting disaster, and it simply won't lower the price of oil.

It is extremely costly to drill this way, and to have the oil travel thousands of miles through a pipeline that must be heated and constantly monitored is expensive and dangerous. It can never be cost competitive over sources in the middle east which can pump their oil at a fraction of the cost of either Anwr or offshore. The price of oil indeed is not determined by short term supply and demand as Sarah says, but by the hedge fund speculators and the obscene profits that the majors have decided that they can get away with in Bush's last days in office.

When Bush started the war in Iraq the price was $1.75 per gallon. Iraq was pumping over 3,000,000 gallons a day and selling it outside the OPEC cartel. When we invaded, it took the cheap oil off the market allowing OPEC to raise the price. It was indeed a war about the control of oil- not about WMD's, freedom, or the security of America.

Palin uses all the oil trade slang like "oil hungry," to make the case for her persistent call for expanded drilling. Has she forgotten what the Exxon Valdez did to the Native American fishermen? It will happen again.

Big oil made Bush governor of Texas, then President of the United States. Now it is trying to put McSame and Palin in office to carry out their business for them.

It is not about electing a woman, it is simply about electing people friendly to the oil cartels.

Read the book "Sarah", by Kaylene Johnson, published by Epicenter Press. You will discover that this woman has had life experiences beyond the wildest imagination of anyone within the beltline and is extremely well-equipped for the challenges of the office of Vice-President.

As for the comment that Obama's hometown of Chicago has more people than the state of Alaska, this would be relevant if Obama actually ran the City of Chicago .. or anything else. Her administrative experience is arguably greater than the entire Democratic ticket.

To those who compare Obama with Palin remember this: He - not she - is a graduate of Columbia University and Harvard Law School, was president of the Harvard Review and is one of the most intelligent nominees since JFK. She - not he - would need mapquest to find the very White House McCain hopes to elevate her to a heartbeat away from running. I have voted Republican in every election until now and I am pro-life and evangelical. But this is a sad, scary choice, and I hope sincerely that the McCain/Palin ticket loses for the sake of this country and our future.

To compare Obama and Palin when making the experience argument is ludicrous, and in time, will ring hollow. Put aside for a moment that Obama is a United Staes Senator with much more experience at the ntional level dealing with nation issues. What's being ignored here is that Obama has been tested by a grueling Demcratic Primary in which went up against and beat a very formidable opponent in Hilly Clinton. He received 19 MILLION votes to get the nomination, and ran an extremely well-organized and competent campaign in the process. That fact in itself should, and will, neutralize this "experience" comparison with Palin.

The central point of Capeheart's article is that McCain could have made a better choice for the country, but gave the evangelical base of the GOP what they most wanted instead...so much for putting the country first.

This pick is pure political pandering to get the base energized. If they can pick up a few points among white women in the 'burbs, that's even better.

But for the GOP this is a win-win pick. They win if McCain wins....he serves out one term and leaves a young successor to pick up the reins; and they win if McCain loses, with a full field of second choice candidates, untainted by the 'loser' tag, to choose from in 2012.

This election is about turnout. That is why Palin is on the ticket. Obama has built a massive get out the vote organization in all 50 states, building upon the success of the 2006 election strategy; and the Dems have increased registration, especially first time voters, by a larger margin than the GOP.
The election may be closer now, but still an electoral landslide for Obama is in the works.

19 million people have already voted for Obama. Palin became governor of Alaska with less than 115,000 votes. In some states, Obama received more votes in the primary than all republican candidates combined. People who want to move the country foward should just continue to register voters and make sure they get to the polls.

"You Dems are in BIG trouble. Looks like old McCain has picked Wonder Woman for the job."

Ahahahaha. She's got five kids and works. Yippity doo daa. Republicans are finally waking up to the idea that maybe it's NOT a woman's place to simply stay in her kitchen. But the idea is also so foreign that they think that having kids and working also qualifies you to be Vice President. Wonder is right...

"Second it signals Hillary supporters they now have a real reason to vote McCain instead of Obama who stole the nomination from Hillary."

Huh? What's the real reason? Female genatalia? Most Hillary supporters are more intelligent than someone actually trying to sell this absurdity.

"This move by McCain will bring the conservative base back home and pick up independents as well as more women because she represents real change."

Yes to the conservative base but no way to anything else. She represents real change--how? She's got the same fanatical views as the Bush administrative on all social issues. Are Republicans so delusional?

Yes a student who would mandate that we all study creationism. Maybe she should study the Constitution.

"She believed in "choice" enough to have a test for Down's done -- opening herself to the very painful choice of whether to proceed with the pregnancy. Is there a woman in America who can't respect the private, personal nature of her decision -- whether they would have come to the same conclusion or not?"

I have no idea why Palin tested for Down Syndrome because she's against against abortion even in cases of rape and incest. So no, I can't respect her decision because there was no decision and because she deems it her right to take that decision from me.

In the end Palin will likely be the pick of most pro-choice women voters. She will certainly stimulate a lot of debate around the dinner table. It is easy to depersonalize abortion, but with Palin the pain of choosing is right in your face, and she made the right choice for her family. She is an example for all of us, and in the very least provocatively makes us think about the ease which the pro-choice movement reduces the value of life as secondary to the right to choose. Palin may very well rally many closet pro-life voters.

There is HUGE difference between being a senator, as one of 100, who doesn't have to show up, doesn't have to do anything, can just be campaigning all the time, doesn't have to vote if he/she does not want to, vs. someone who is IN CHARGE. Whether it is in charge as mayor or as governor. You can't just not show up, everything ends up on YOUR desk, with YOUR imprint. YOU are the one who is getting ALL the calls.
And YOU are the one who has to make the decisions. So it is completely correct to say that SHE has more executive experience than the other three combined, since none of them have ever run anything - with perhaps the exception being McCain who was in the military.
There is a HUGE difference. If people don't see it, then they never will, but then they don't know the difference between being in charge and being a subordinate...and they come up with conspiracy theories like the ones above.

I have no idea why Palin tested for Down Syndrome because she's against against abortion even in cases of rape and incest. So no, I can't respect her decision because there was no decision and because she deems it her right to take that decision from me.

Posted by: Julkrey | August 30, 2008 10:02 AM

She is over 35, the age at which OBs will recommend an amniocentesis (one has the right to refuse, as I did). If you're doing the test, they will test for down's especially since she is not just 40, but quite a bit over 40.

And, even if one will not terminate a pregnancy, it prepares one for what is to come and you can make many decisions before the child is born, not having to be surprised and make decisions and do research when one is completely exhausted.

In the end, it is one thing to say that you think it is wrong to terminate a pregnancy, and completely another to say that this decision is the right one for everyone else. There are plenty of things I may think are morally wrong, but that does not mean that they should be illegal.
Re: abortion - the only thing that will happen is that women will have more babies that they are aware they cannot care for and more women will have abortions done illegally (making something illegal does not stop the behavior - but what type of society do we want to live in?).
And the ultimate question is - how would she like to enforce this type of a law? We already have overburdened law enforcement in this country, who can hardly do what they need to do now - do we want to throw doctors in jail? Women? We have overcrowded prisons as it is. How exactly does she want to enforce such a law?
And, certain religions, require abortions in certain situations (for the health of the mother). What is her stance on THAT? Would there then be exceptions for some? Or does she not respect certain religions?

"In the end Palin will likely be the pick of most pro-choice women voters..... It is easy to depersonalize abortion, but with Palin the pain of choosing is right in your face, and she made the right choice for her family."

Wow, it's amazing to watch the Republicans try to rationalize a VP choice that has one thing going for her (social conservative to bring in the social conservatives) and everything else going against her. Oh yeah, pro-choice women are going to want to vote for a woman who believes that women should not have the choice to abort even in cases of rape and incest. And they will do this because she had a Down Syndrome baby (and no she didn't "choose" to have that baby--that's a pro-choice stance, not a Palin stance). Republicans are making statements like they've got a 106 fever and don't know up from down...

"pro choicers will vote for her because she's anti-choice....scientists will vote for her because she's anti science...moose will vote for her because she eats them for dinner..."

Julkrey. Thank you for illustrating the dark secret of the pro-choice movement. It's called contempt prior to investigation. I'm not pro-life in the case of rape and incest, but I do believe that abortion is too much of a built in reflex to the pro-choice movement. Sara Palin in the least will provide a good example of responsible choice.

"Thank you for illustrating the dark secret of the pro-choice movement. It's called contempt prior to investigation."

D Man I do not have contempt for the fact that Palin had a Down Syndrome child, that's her prerogative. I do have contempt for her believing that the rest of us MUST (not should) follow her lead regardless of how we want to lead our lives. The dark secret of the pro-choice movement is tolerance of others.

The Dems are freaking out right now. They never dreamed that the GOP would throw up a young woman for V.P. This changes the whole game. The Dems had done all their homework on Romney and Pawlenty and were just waiting for the annoucement to trash them. When they found out it wasn’t Romney or Pawlenty, they started to panic. They had no prepared anti-Palin ads to run. The best they could come up with was a lame statement about how Palin was too inexperienced…which they considered a nonissue last week. That just made them look like hypocrites. The Dems are playing defense right now and they expected to be playing offense. They have to figure out a way to attack Palin without angering women. Its not going to be easy.

At first, I thought, "this is a smart move to get the disgruntled Hillary supporters" Then today, I realized she just had a baby this spring the same as my daughter and daughter-in-law, and she planned on not taking time off as governor, and taking him to work with her so she could breast feed. I am very pro-breast feeding and applaud her for that, but the chances of that going for a minimum of a year exclusively, and continuing to supplement for the second year just went out the door. (two years is recommended for the health of a child by the World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatricss says one for certain, and maybe two--can't remember which for sure).
This woman is not a "Hillary" who has a grown daughter. She is a woman with 5 young children, one newborn infant with Down's sydrome, an infant with "high needs." I'm sorry, but this is not someone who shows high "family" values.
Some are questioning McCain's judgement, I'm questioning hers!
She also flew home to Alaska from Texas at 36 weeks after her water broke before boarding the plane without telling the pilot, as I said "I question her judgement"

Its very irresponsible for any one to have 5 children in this day and age, espically bringing to life someone with downsyndrome. Given everyone had 5 kids the world population would reach a staggering 15-20 billion! Its puts a tremendous burden on the environment. Sarah Palin's conservative ideals are inspired from religious beliefs that don’t belong to the 21st century.

Its very irresponsible for any one to have 5 children in this day and age, especially bringing to life someone with down syndrome. Given everyone had 5 kids the world population would reach a staggering 15-20 billion! Its puts a tremendous burden on the environment. Sarah Palin's conservative ideals are inspired from religious beliefs that don’t belong to the 21st century.

Its very irresponsible for any one to have 5 children in this day and age, especially bringing to life someone with down syndrome. Given everyone had 5 kids the world population would reach a staggering 15-20 billion! Its puts a tremendous burden on the environment. Sarah Palin's conservative ideals are inspired from religious beliefs that don’t belong to the 21st century.

Its very irresponsible for any one to have 5 children in this day and age, especially bringing to life someone with down syndrome. Given everyone had 5 kids the world population would reach a staggering 15-20 billion! Its puts a tremendous burden on the environment. Sarah Palin's conservative ideals are inspired from religious beliefs that don’t belong to the 21st century.

'Its very irresponsible for any one to have 5 children in this day and age'

Sounds like you've got your head stuck in a bail of hay. Raising children is the most selfless and character building exercise one could ever perform. Why don't you put a sock in it and start taking notes.

'Its very irresponsible for any one to have 5 children in this day and age'

Sounds like you've got your head stuck in a bail of hay. Raising children is the most selfless and character building exercise one could ever perform. Why don't you put a sock in it and start taking notes in Humanities 101.

A Kahn. It sounds like you've got your head stuck in a bail of hay. Raising children is the most selfless and character building exercise one could ever perform. Why don't you put a sock in it and start taking notes in Humanities 101.

John McCain is Insane.
He left more than tears in the Hanoi Hilton.
Oh, My God; Judgement has fled to brutish beasts, and men have lost their reason.
How much hope is there for a nation whose critical thinkers are so shallow and impulsive?

McCain showed bad judgement to tap an unknown candidate. Gov. Pahlin showed very bad judgement to accept a job she is not qualified for. I play golf and good at it but, it some old man came along and told me I could compete with Tiger Woods and to go up against him, would I be foolish enough to believe it? NO! Sarah fell for McCain's desperate to use her to get women voters. A president of sound mind will not meet an unknown candidate one time prior to selecting them for VP. This shows reckless behavior and poor judgement as he will be if president. "Country First" is a joke! Now McCain is confident that America will accept and back his VP in about 60 days or less? With less than 2 months til the election, his VP should have been someone already known and tested. America does not have time to "get to know" the next VP. I am an independant 40 yr old female and I do not make my decision to vote the same way McCain picks his VP- with risk and desperation. America - feel confident to vote for Obama/Biden. This combo is the smartest team to get America back on track. It's not what politicians say that truely matter as most of them are self serving and lie to get in office. But, we need to assess smarts and good judgement and those qualities are clear in Obama/Biden. Repubs need to stop the spin that this unknown woman will impress us! Most fair minded Americans will not seriously consider how impressive Sarah can perform in the next 60 days. McCain has truely insulted the female voters and ultimately made a joke of the Republican party. The Repubs will look very foolish at their convention.I predict a landslide like 70/30.

C'mon Fellow Democrats, I wanna puke - we need to grow some spines.
Don't you see what's unfolding?

Once again the conservatives have no creative or original ideas of their own, so they steel ours and drive them home like we fail to know how to do. They're opportunists, watch them work. They took a truly organic and heart-felt, hard-worked run of Hillary and Barak's, who both earned every single vote that they received, and remanufacture this Palin Frankenstein and call it history. AND THE SAD PART IS THAT WE ARE NOT CALLING THEM OUT ON IT!
Let me Give You Your TALKING POINTS my faint-hearted, easily-bullied, overly-polite and apologetic Dems: (I promise people will still like you afterwards)

1. SEXISM. They plan to heavily capitalize on the divisions and pitfalls they witnessed in Hillary's campaign that claims sexism, (which trumps "racism") and they are jumping right on it. If we question anything about Palin's family responsibilities to her special needs child who's only 5 month old, or we say that McInsane hired her as a "token", or that she hasn't earned the spot, they spit sexism at us with a huge smile on their face, because finally now they're in the race - our race that they jealously watched unfold. -CALL 'EM On IT!

2. Can you say Pandering, FLIP FLOP? They are the ones who complained about inexperience NOT us, IT WAS THEIR ISSUE, AND THEY'RE REVERSING THEIR STANCE ON IT - they hired an inexperienced VP. -CALL 'EM On IT!

3. JUDGEMENT - McCain's "Off the rails on a Crazy Train" He just met her 1 time before they met to offer her the job. And he claims she's "the one." And he's entrusting her with the whole country's problems if he croaks, which drives home the "reckless" accusations that the Republicans said before (do I see a commercial here?) -CALL 'EM On IT!

4. Lastly and Most importantly When it comes to comparing the details of who has more experience - OBAMA WORKED FOR IT, PALIN WAS HANDED IT - (typical of the republicans) PLEASE NOTE: - Barak Obama went through years of preparation, struggle, strategy and fight to win over the hearts and minds of the people. (Hillary too, for that matter). He is truly for and of the people. MOST NOTEWORTHY: His education is superior - a law degree, President of the Law Review, and many other intellectual accomplishments that better qualifies him. Doesn't education mean anything? or are we scared they will say we are elitist - fight back, stand proud on reality. Palin only has a BA in Journalism, barely even enough to get a job on CNN. -CALL 'EM On IT!

Fellow Dems, I can't live through another snow-job election- Take it by the B___ls and FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT!!! Wake up - the party is starting.
This is our chance, we know we have the better candidate for obvious reasons, don't be afraid to tell it like it is, people will still like you - I promise.
ARE WE READY to RUMBLEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

McCain showed bad judgement to tap an unknown candidate. Gov. Pahlin showed very bad judgement to accept a job she is not qualified for. I play golf and good at it but, it some old man came along and told me I could compete with Tiger Woods and to go up against him, would I be foolish enough to believe it? NO! Sarah fell for McCain's desperate move to use her to get women voters. A president of sound mind will not meet an unknown candidate one time prior to selecting them for VP. This shows reckless behavior and poor judgement as he will be if president. "Country First" is a joke! Now McCain is confident that America will accept and back his VP in about 60 days or less? With less than 2 months til the election, his VP should have been someone already known and tested. America does not have time to "get to know" the next VP. I am an independant 40 yr old female and I do not make my decision to vote the same way McCain picks his VP- with risk and desperation. America - feel confident to vote for Obama/Biden. This combo is the smartest team to get America back on track. It's not what politicians say that truly matter as most of them are self serving and lie to get in office. But, we need to assess smarts and good judgement and those qualities are clear in Obama/Biden. Repubs need to stop the spin that this unknown woman will impress us! Most fair minded Americans will not seriously consider how impressive Sarah can perform in the next 60 days. McCain has insulted the female voters and ultimately made a joke of the Republican party. The Repubs will look very foolish at their convention.I predict a landslide.

McCain showed bad judgement to tap an unknown candidate. Gov. Pahlin showed very bad judgement to accept a job she is not qualified for. I play golf and good at it but, if some old man came along and told me I could compete with Tiger Woods and to go up against him, would I be foolish enough to believe it? NO! Sarah fell for McCain's desperate move to use her to get women voters. A president of sound mind will not meet an unknown candidate one time prior to selecting them for VP. This shows reckless behavior and poor judgement as he will be if president. "Country First" is a joke! Now McCain is confident that America will accept and back his VP in about 60 days or less? With less than 2 months til the election, his VP should have been someone already known and tested. America does not have time to "get to know" the next VP. I am an independant 40 yr old female and I do not make my decision to vote the same way McCain picks his VP- with risk and desperation. America - feel confident to vote for Obama/Biden. This combo is the smartest team to get America back on track. It's not what politicians say that truly matter as most of them are self serving and lie to get in office. But, we need to assess smarts and good judgement and those qualities are clear in Obama/Biden. Repubs need to stop the spin that this unknown woman will impress us! Most fair minded Americans will not seriously consider how impressive Sarah can perform in the next 60 days. McCain has insulted the female voters and ultimately made a joke of the Republican party. The Repubs will look very foolish at their convention.I predict a landslide.

I'm very upset with McCain for putting mine and my children's lives at risk! If he want's to gamble with his own life that's his business but to gamble with American lives by choosing a VP that he only met once is very upsetting and insulting! He made a political move instead of a thoughtful move! McCain has shown poor judgment and he shows me that when he makes very critical decisions such as going to war he will not give any thought to it! It will simply shoot from the hip! McCain scares me and he has shown that with all his supposedly years of experience he has POOR JUDGMENT, POOR TEMPERMENT, AND VERY UNWISE!!!!!!!

Isn't it obvious McSame said "hey I know, we just need to pick a woman any woman, and I'll be a shoe in". So Cindy looked at her newest issue of former Beauty queen pagent winners and said hey, the Gov. of Alaska for the last six hundred days won Miss Willegia or whatever Moose Creek, she's totally against abortion, however, after their born she simply leaves them all with the babysitter. Oh, she loves to cook Moose, maybe I can steal the recipe from her, and best of all she was mayor of a town of 3,000 people, she's a member of the PTA and worked the popcorn booth at the fair! McCain, Cindy, that's our VP. "What about foreign policy experience Cindy says?" Oh, come on, everyone knows Alaska is close to Russia, oh, John your so smart! GAG

I commend this lady for her accomplishments, truly! But as a mother I just don't understand her taking this position having such a small child especially with special needs. It was fine with Hillary because she has no young ones! But I see this Palin lady as being very selfish and only career oriented! Being a Governor is fine but when you take the position of VP, one heartbeat away from President, it really does not make much since to me! Who will take care of her children if they get sick! Yes I understand she has a husband but I just don't understand that as a mother! This woman will have to be on call 24/7 for any kind of emergency! And anyone can try to turn it around and say the same for the father or Obama but to me it is just diffrent! Children need both parents but to me I always wanted my mother before I wanted my father! And no you can't charge sexism! I AM A FEMALE! I just think she may need to focus on her young children first before taking such a big responsibility! To me this shows PALIN HAS POOR JUDGMENT, and is a very neglectful selfish mother!!!

"Her state has 2 million fewer people than Barack Obama's hometown of Chicago."

This might be a valid argument, if Obama had been mayor of the city of Chicago.

As it is, it seems reasonable to say that the leader of a state has more executive experience than a state senator. Better yet, I'd argue that a governor of a state gains more experience over the same time period than a U.S. senator, particularly if that senator spends their entire tenure running for president.

Apparently, some folks have an unrealistic notion of what a junior senator DOES during his first couple of years (or 143 days of work, in Obama's case). He doesn't make any executive decisions. He doesn't balance any budgets. He doesn't make policy or negotiate with foreign governments.

"Junior" primarily listens to speeches and reviews legislation that other people have written. He goes to lunches, attends meeting, and tries to make contacts who will give him opportunities to further his career. And -- HELLO -- he doesn't actually write any legislation (important or otherwise).

This is true of ALL of the legislation that Obama "co-sponsored". The actual sponsor drafts an outline. Staff writers draft the legislation. The sponsor reviews it and makes comments. Occdasionally, the sponsor may allow a colleague to slap his name on it as a "co-sponsor" (Junior Senators -- including Obama -- are actually this far down the chain of actual responsibility). THIS is the vast legislative experience your boy Obama (no racial insult intended) is running on.

Talk to a senate intern (and no, I don't mean Monica) if you want to know what Junior Senators do. Verify the process with your own Senator. This will give you a better idea of the kind of hand-shaking, lunch-eating, and "qualified experience" Obama has amassed during the 143 days he spent in the Senate before leaving to run for office full-time.

Review what Palin has actually, personally ACCOMPLISHED as governor of Alaska. She DID something about corruption in her state, cut taxes, cut spending, terminated the "bridge to nowhere" program, and took on the oil companies. (During this same time frame, Obama voted FOR subsidies to oil companies, and McCain voted against them -- but Palin did something more substantive than just "vote").

If a senator gets onto major committees and actually travels to meet with world leaders (over a couple of decades), he will eventually acquire relevant "world leader" experience -- as an observer, not as an executive decision maker.

Obama doesn't have any of this type of experience. Palin similarly doesn't have is, but can gain it as V.P. much more quickly than Obama has in the senate.

Obama doesn't have the character, judgement or experience his opponent has, and he wants you to believe he should be president. He promises 95% of all voters a share of someone else's paycheck to bribe them into giving him that chance.

The V.P. role isn't generally critical, but the Presidential pick IS. Make that choice on character, judgement, and experience. Choose the candidate that will work for BOTH races and ALL economic levels. Choose the candidate that wants to serve AMERICA more than he wants to serve his own ego. Choose the candidate that actually HAS foreign policy experience (and yeah -- you'll be choosing his inexperienced woman V.P. right along with him).

Sorry but the executive experience of someone who was mayor of a town 1/20 the size of Obama's state senate district doesn't count for that much. Plus she's under a cloud right now, which speaks volumes about her administrative ability.
The word is she's vindictive, petty and uses her husband as her right arm. Virtually no one in Alaska apart from paid shills is singing her praises.

This pick was not to pick off Hillary's supporters. This pick was to cement the hard-core conservatives and the so-called evangelicals (which is about a biased political term if you know anything about pretestant history-its a loaded word for Democats who are ignorant of such things) in place. Any Hillary voters they get are a bonus.

What most people do not understand is that
Obama has top administrative experience. The ability to mobilize cities, states, and countries and its people is the most awesome talent that no one has possessed in the past or the present. Inherent in this ability is a plan, a strategy, a philosophy that's brilliantly conveyed. No senate experience or state experience can compare to the ability to galvenize.

Oh, yeah. Obama has "executive experience". READ HIS OWN BIO! The only budget he has EVER managed (including his own household budget, which I'll bet Michele manages) was as a community organizer. It ranged from $70K to $400K per year. That's a fraction of the CITY budget Palin managed in the "puny Alaska town" where she was mayor for several years before becoming GOVERNOR of the State of Alaska.

Obama is from a big (corrupt) city, which he wallowed in -- but never MANAGED. If he had been Governor of Illinois, or even Mayor of Chicago, he'd have some experience to talk about (and probably even more skeletons in his closet).

All that said, Palin (who HAS managed a budget) isn't running for the top job in this country, but Obama (outrageously) is.

After he loses the election, Obama should do what he does best. Write another racist biography. Go on a speaking tour and "galvanize" some more suckers. But he and the blinded-by-partisanship Bush-haters need to give up the delusion that Obama is qualified (by either ideas or experience) to lead this entire nation. Ridiculous.

Oh, yeah. Obama has "executive experience". READ HIS OWN BIO! The only budget he has EVER managed (including his own household budget, which I'll bet Michele manages) was as a community organizer. It ranged from $70K to $400K per year. That's a fraction of the CITY budget Palin managed in the "puny Alaska town" where she was mayor for several years before becoming GOVERNOR of the State of Alaska.

Obama is from a big (corrupt) city, which he wallowed in -- but never MANAGED. If he had been Governor of Illinois, or even Mayor of Chicago, he'd have some experience to talk about (and probably even more skeletons in his closet).

All that said, Palin (who HAS managed a budget) isn't running for the top job in this country, but Obama (outrageously) is.

After he loses the election, Obama should do what he does best. Write another racist biography. Go on a speaking tour and "galvanize" some more suckers. But he and the blinded-by-partisanship Bush-haters need to give up the delusion that Obama is qualified (by either ideas or experience) to lead this entire nation. Ridiculous.

Oh, yeah. Obama has "executive experience". READ HIS OWN BIO! The only budget he has EVER managed (including his own household budget, which I'll bet Michele manages) was as a community organizer. It ranged from $70K to $400K per year. That's a fraction of the CITY budget Palin managed in the "puny Alaska town" where she was mayor for several years before becoming GOVERNOR of the State of Alaska.

Obama is from a big (corrupt) city, which he wallowed in -- but never MANAGED. If he had been Governor of Illinois, or even Mayor of Chicago, he'd have some experience to talk about (and probably even more skeletons in his closet).

All that said, Palin (who HAS managed a budget) isn't running for the top job in this country, but Obama (outrageously) is.

After he loses the election, Obama should do what he does best. Write another racist biography. Go on a speaking tour and "galvanize" some more suckers. But he and the blinded-by-partisanship Bush-haters need to give up the delusion that Obama is qualified (by either ideas or experience) to lead this entire nation. Ridiculous.

It's not "administrative experience" that the job of President requires. It's "executive experience". You know -- making decisions, setting policy, managing a budget. Signing or vetoing legislation. This is what Palin has, and Obama lacks.

(Public speaking ability is what Hitler had. Lying to the masses and telling them you can give them something they don't deserve iis not whaiswe want in our next President).

READ OBAMA'S OWN BIO! The only budget he has EVER managed (including his own household budget, which I'll bet Michele manages) was as a community organizer. It ranged from $70K to $400K per year. That's a fraction of the CITY budget Sarah Palin managed in the "puny Alaska town" where she was mayor for several years before becoming GOVERNOR of the State of Alaska.

You're right -- Obama came to Washington from a big (corrupt) city, which he schmoozed and wallowed in -- but never MANAGED. If he had been Governor of Illinois, or even Mayor of Chicago, he'd have some experience to talk about (and probably even more skeletons in his closet).

All that said, Palin (who HAS managed a budget) isn't running for the top job in this country, but Obama (outrageously) is.

After he loses the election, Obama should go back to what he does best. Write another racist biography. Go on a speaking tour and "galvanize" some more suckers. But Obama and the blinded-by-partisanship Bush-haters need to give up the delusion that Obama is qualified (by either ideas or experience) to lead this great nation. Ridiculous.

Chicagoan says, "Virtually no one in Alaska apart from paid shills is singing her praises."

Actually, Sarah Palin has an 80% approval rating in Alaska. And the highest approval rating of any governor in the entire country.

Maybe they don't teach math in Chicago?

That would explain why Obama doesn't know jack-splat about the economy. His economic plan to help small business is a shell-game about "capital gains taxes". It is INCOME TAXES that are the scourge of small business -- and Obama wants to raise those. If small business has no after-tax cash reserves, they can't create new jobs, develop new products, or buy things from other small businesses. The entire economy suffers. But, like I said, maybe they don't teach math in Chicago.

I am a 46 year resident of Alaska. I don't know who the pollsters are in Alaska, but Palin does not enjoys an 80% approval rating. I have never been polled, nor have my family members, nor have my friends and I believe the system is flawed.

Don't believe the hype. Gov. Palin is not intellectual -- At least Hillary was and Obama is (Harvard Law Shool, magna cum laude grad)!

I want someone with intellectual depth, someone who will understand a cross board of issues domestically and abroad.

Let me say that when your state (Alaska) has a $30+ billion savings account (Permanent Fund), with a government so flushed in oil cash (in the billions annually), you can afford to give to each resident a projected $2,000 check (to eligible Alaskans this year) and a $1200 energy check, I would say that it's not too hard to govern.

Under those conditions my 12 year nephew (A average student) could successfully govern!

Governor Tony Knowles governed during a time when the price of a barrel of oil was $9--and he governed successfully.

It is an insult to our democracy and an insult to American woman for anyone to assume that the hard work done by one woman (Hillary)representing a totally different world view and the millions of women she represented can now be transfered to a Sarah Palin who does not advocate for pay equity or a woman's right to choose. Palin does not support healthcare for all, but she does believe in privitizing social security. She does believe in teaching creation in PUBLIC schools, while not acknowleging the fantastic work that public school teachers do for our children every day.

Sarah Palin has ABSOLUTELY NO DOMESTIC or FOREIGN POLICY experience. SHE HAS 1 1/2 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AS GOVERNOR. She is currently under INVESTIGATION initiated by a bi partison legislative group for ABUSE of power.

Sarah Palin is NOT qualifed to be the President of the United States should McCain become incapacitated. And this is a real possibility given McCain is a 72 year old, four time Melanoma patient.

Does John McCain think that choosing a woman VP candidate who has no experience on the national or international levels about health, education, national security, economics, and international relations can in any way replace the Hillary Clinton many of us loved, respected, and looked up to? Having once lived in Alaska myself in addition to the Midwest and the West Coast, I can say that the Alaskan life experience provides very little relevancy to life in most of the United States of America. Sarah may be good for Alaska, but she does not represent most of the working mothers in America.

Posted by: Working mother who has lives in Midwest, California and even Alaska | August 30, 2008 7:23 PM
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Clearly, there is at least one reader of the Washington Post in Alaska -- who is also probably a Democrat. Buy I didn't hear the Alaskan who responded complaining about (or even arguing with) any of the decisions Sarah Palin made as Governor. I wonder if she feels as supportive of Obama when it comes to judgements like his active involvement in a racially polarized church for 20 years. And, since the National Budget has anything BUT a surplus, I wonder if she is as skeptical of Obama's proposed spending plans as I am.

The one thing Sarah Palin could do in Washington that she has done in Alaska (and that Obama will never do) is CUT SPENDING.

Sadly, this election now has nothing to do with Hillary, and everything to do with the choice of McCain vs. Obama. And after the way the Obama camp (and NBC and the DNC) treated Hillary, I'd be shocked if any true Hillary believers could vote for Obama. Or if any objective Alaskan could argue with the way Sarah Palin has governed.

Clearly, there is at least one reader of the Washington Post in Alaska -- who is also probably a Democrat. But I didn't hear the Alaskan who responded complaining about (or even arguing with) any of the decisions Sarah Palin made as Governor. I wonder if she feels as supportive of Obama when it comes to judgements like his active involvement in a racially polarized church for 20 years. And, since the National Budget has anything BUT a surplus, I wonder if she is as skeptical of Obama's proposed spending plans as I am.

The one thing Sarah Palin could do in Washington that she has done in Alaska (and that Obama will never do) is CUT SPENDING.

Sadly, this election now has nothing to do with Hillary, and everything to do with the choice of McCain vs. Obama. And after the way the Obama camp (and NBC and the DNC) treated Hillary, I'd be shocked if any true Hillary believers could vote for Obama. Or if any objective Alaskan could argue with the way Sarah Palin has governed.

Wake up Democrats your about to loose the White House.
Your good at putting down woman, and Sara has just the medicine to dish up. Wait to you see her take on the two good old boy Lawyers (Biden and Bamo).
I for one am going to sit back and watch the the fun.

To all who claim Palin has more experience than Obama, how do you figure. Obama was a state senator in Illinois for 8 years before becoming a US Senator and I might add that Illinois is much bigger than Alaska. Furthermore, I am all for woman in the workforce, but who will watch her children especially her infant when she takes on the responsibility of being 2nd in command. Will the american people suffer or will her family? I have little respect for a woman who puts her career before her family. As a working mother of two, I put my aspirations aside when I decided to have children. If she had aspirations to pursue a career in political office especially outside the spectrum of little Alaska, then why would she continue to bring children into this world for someone else to raise. No way can she be effective at both, sorry been there, quit my job to raise my kids, gave up financial cushion in the process. I chose to have children they didn't ask to come into this world. Come on people, wake up, before we have 4 more years of the last 8. I don't care republican or democrat everybody has to be in concensus that this has been the worst president in history. Do we really want more? Thanks for pushing me to vote Democrat, Palin was the push I needed and I was a Hilary supporter. She is "Pale In" comparison to HRC.

PLEASE STOP talking about experience, Gov. Palin started in politics in 1992, Mr. Obama, 1997, there's 5 years,,, Gov. Palin, yes mayor of small Alaskan town, 9,000 residents, Mr. Obama, community organizer (wow),,, enough said here also,,,, Gov. Palin, Governor of the largest (size wise) state of the union,,, Mr. Obama,, 180 days as a senator,,, zero legislation,,, zilch,,, none,,, zap,,, notta,,, nothing!!! Gov. Palin,, yep she made some enemies there,, standing up for what is right usually does make people mad,,, even in your own party!!!, Mr. Obama??? Well that is all we have heard about is his friends,,, Pastor Jeremiah Wright,,, (20 years with this nut case) and how about William Ayers & his companion (?) Bernadine Dohrn,,, These are the ones that we know about,,, hard to say about his contributors and friends we don’t know about!!! Moving on,,, Gov. Palin,, sells the governors private jet on eBay returns the money to the citizens of Alaska,,, Mr. Obama gets favors financing his house through Chicago businessman Antoin "Tony" Rezko, now convicted of 16 of the 24 charges of corruption against him…. Gov Palin running for the second chair,,, Mr. Obama running for the big chair…. CHANGE??? Yea there is change involved but it is not on the left,, especially with Mr. Biden in the second seat,,, Seems to me,,, Governor Palin has more experience and the change we need over Mr. Obama,,, 180 days as a senator,,, (hard to say how many of those days he was actually in the office) oh yea,,, community organizer (WOW)… I think Gov. Palin not only has more experience,,, but more of the right stuff and ability,, if needed to step up to the first chair…. Than Mr. Obama and Mr. Biden!! (YES THE RIGHT STUFF DOES PLAY IN THE EQUATION) If we are now electing our presidents based on the ability to make a good speech,,, maybe we should start recruiting from high schools and colleges,,, we could get by,,, by paying them less too,,,, May God Bless Senator John & Cindy McCain and Gov Sarah & Todd Palin,,, and may our God continue to Bless America !!! McCain & Palin 08 !!!

I am looking at the photo of gov. Palin accompanying this piece and am convinced her glasses are "vanity" spex, zero prescription. No apparent change of refractive index there. Which is a propos of exactly nothing, but sorta catches the eye.

I try to recognize different perspectives, especially with politics... but McCain's move with his VP pick, simply put, is too much.

It is obvious that he is using Palin to acquire the almighty CR (Christian Right) vote... Afterall, wasn't that how Bush did it?

If I were any member of the CR I would be outraged my party would think so little of my ability to choose and actually set out to make me a programmable zombie for others benefit... As fast as you can say... The Election's Over... the CR is thrown not under a bus but completely out the air lock to float helplessly in outer space.

I heard all those news stories of how aspiring Palin is and I said to myself... If Obama picked someone like that, we'd be conversing, viewing, and thinking about a whole different thing. Wow... Ain't America great.

So you believe her years as a mayor gives her a huge hand over Obama. He lobbied to help those less fortunate, has a law degree and works in public office for 12 years, yet Palin, mother PTA member, beauty queen and governor is way more qualified. Woohoo back at you. You probably were one of the voters who put Bush in office after his first 4 years of obamination. Secondly, why did you not respond to my concern about her children and how effective she would be as VP and a mother? Standard Republican feedback, ignore the obvious. I think our mayor would make a great President, maybe I'll mention it at the next re-organization meeting. Perhaps, I should consider a run, after all I was on the local PTA. Explains why our country is where it is...

We continue to talk about experience because for one John McCain made it an issue with regards to Barack. So you believe her years as a mayor gives her a huge hand over Obama. He lobbied to help those less fortunate, has a law degree and works in public office for 12 years, yet Palin, mother PTA member, beauty queen and governor is way more qualified. Woohoo back at you. Secondly, why did you not respond to my concern about her children and how effective she would be as VP and a mother? I think our mayor would make a great President, maybe I'll mention it at the next re-organization meeting. Perhaps, I should consider a run, after all I was on the local PTA. Explains why our country is where it is...

We continue to talk about experience because for one John McCain made it an issue with regards to Barack. So you believe her years as a mayor gives her a huge hand over Obama. He lobbied to help those less fortunate, has a law degree and works in public office for 12 years, yet Palin, mother PTA member, beauty queen and governor is way more qualified. Woohoo back at you. Secondly, why did you not respond to my concern about her children and how effective she would be as VP and a mother? I think our mayor would make a great President, maybe I'll mention it at the next re-organization meeting. Perhaps, I should consider a run, after all I was on the local PTA. Explains why our country is where it is...

I love it,,, first Gov. Palin is not running for President,,, SHE is in the second seat,,, A person with experience is in the big chair on the RIGHT side,,,, Second,,, it is amazing how most dems want to slam her by talking about Her experience,,, compared to what???
Mr. Obama is the one who has the "CHANGE" slogan going,,, not much "CHANGE" with a senator as VP who has been in Washington for 36 years!! Even Mr. Biden himself talked about selecting Mr. McCain as a VP for his run for the big seat!!! Oh,,, and by the way did we mention she was cute????

Poor Obama. He can't attack Sarah Palin on experience, because his own resume is so weak.

At Saddleback with Rick Warren, Obama was asked which supreme court justice he would NOT have appointed. He said "Clarence Thomas, because I don't think he had enough exper... I mean, I don't think he had enough time on the bench." He nearly choked on the word "experience" because he knows how weak he is ... and he knows that WE know it.

Guess Palin gets a pass because the Dems chose such a good speaker (and a weak, totally unqualified candidate) for President this year.

I was only comparing experience in response to an earlier email. I do believe Obama (not as experienced as I would have liked) still has more experience than Palin, the facts speak for themselves. I have no problem with a female, but I wouldn't vote for her just because she is a female. I believe Hillary had the most experience running on the dem ticket. But what about my question with regards to raising her family. Why has no one responded to that? Maybe there is something truth in what I say. I am not a rep or dem, I vote for the person, not the party. Voted for Reagan and voted for Clinton. I am proud to say that I did not vote for BUSH, sad what he has done. I for one liked Hillary and Mitt Romney in this election. So if anyone can be objective enough to look past dem/rep, perhaps they could address my concern with regards to her job committment to country or family?

Buckeye, I have been reading all the emails and I have not decided who to vote for. I voted for Hillary in the primary, as I believed her to be the best qualified, as a former first lady and senator. It had nothing to do with being a female. I believe in the right to choose although personally against abortion. But I find it interesting that you were looking into Palin for months prior to the announcement. I find that amazing considering McCain hadn't looked that long and hard. Second, this website you refer to, to compare resumes Obama v. Palin, who created the website? Have to wonder these days if what you read is written by a rep or dem. As far as I have read, she was a PTA mom, mayor and now governor for less than 2 years. Obama was involved in community service with a law degree, 8 years a State Senator and now a US Senator. Let's face it all of the Senators that run for office spend little time as Senators, Rep or Dem. I too have family that have served in Iraq, however, I do not and did not believe in that War. I believe we should have been looking for Bin Laden. We cannot police the world. I was recently abroad and trust me the sentiment of the Europeons is nothing short of hatred for the Americans and they laugh at us especially with respect to Bush. It truly is sad, especially when your teenage children experience the anti american sentiment. I think it is admirable that McCain served his country, but had he not been a POW, would he be any different from any other serviceman. Thousands of our men were POW's. I for one am tired of hearing about it. My question with regards to Palin...I could care less who mothered her infant, I do not listen to that bs, however, how will she be a productive VP and carry out the necessary duties of that position, one that would require more than a Governor and also remain a mother to her children. One or the other will suffer. If she is serious about this position, than it will be her children. I am a working mother of 2 children and it is far from easy. However, I chose to put my career aspirations aside and work a job for less money conducive to my childrens schedule. After all I chose to have them, why should they suffer and or why should someone else raise them. Perhaps she should have had less children, if she was aspiring to such high career choices. Someone please respond to this in an objective way. This has nothing to do with dem/rep. PS: for all the hillary converters, I would hope you are all not stupid enough to jump the bandwagon because Palin is a woman and Obama did not pick Hillary. Lets face it, Hillary will do more good right now as a Senator. She was too smart to sit second chair, her day will come and hopefully the world won't be so intimidated.

McCain could have made the sensible and truly maverick decision of picking Lieberman as VP. Instead, he decided to pick someone who will appease the party bases. Some maverick.

Choosing Lieberman would probably cost him the election (maybe even the party nomination?), but at least he would have saved face. With Palin he loses both.

Another possibility presents itself: could Palin be a sacrificial lamb? Unlike the close race of percent vote polls, a count of electoral college delegates shows the election as a done deal for the Dems. Could it be that McCain sensed the boat sinking and decided not to damage the future careers of the other, more plausible VP choices? I realize this sounds far-fetched, but not any more so than the notion that McCain really believes Palin is ready to be President.

"I am a 46 year resident of Alaska. I don't know who the pollsters are in Alaska, but Palin does not enjoys an 80% approval rating. I have never been polled, nor have my family members, nor have my friends and I believe the system is flawed.

Don't believe the hype. Gov. Palin is not intellectual -- At least Hillary was and Obama is (Harvard Law Shool, magna cum laude grad)!

I want someone with intellectual depth, someone who will understand a cross board of issues domestically and abroad.

Let me say that when your state (Alaska) has a $30+ billion savings account (Permanent Fund), with a government so flushed in oil cash (in the billions annually), you can afford to give to each resident a projected $2,000 check (to eligible Alaskans this year) and a $1200 energy check, I would say that it's not too hard to govern.

Under those conditions my 12 year nephew (A average student) could successfully govern!

Governor Tony Knowles governed during a time when the price of a barrel of oil was $9--and he governed successfully.

It is an insult to our democracy and an insult to American woman for anyone to assume that the hard work done by one woman (Hillary)representing a totally different world view and the millions of women she represented can now be transfered to a Sarah Palin who does not advocate for pay equity or a woman's right to choose. Palin does not support healthcare for all, but she does believe in privitizing social security. She does believe in teaching creation in PUBLIC schools, while not acknowleging the fantastic work that public school teachers do for our children every day.

Sarah Palin has ABSOLUTELY NO DOMESTIC or FOREIGN POLICY experience. SHE HAS 1 1/2 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AS GOVERNOR. She is currently under INVESTIGATION initiated by a bi partison legislative group for ABUSE of power.

Sarah Palin is NOT qualifed to be the President of the United States should McCain become incapacitated. And this is a real possibility given McCain is a 72 year old, four time Melanoma patient.

Too much is at stake for we Americans to take this chance.

Posted by: From Alaska | August 30, 2008 7:04 PM"

Alaska, thank you for writing in and sharing a citizen's perspective about Palin's performance as a governor. It would also be useful to have substantive information supporting her so-called executive abilities from another actual Alaskan. Something a little more informative than "she's got guts" please. Passing out oil cash to Alaskans is old hat for the Alaskan state government. I'm no and Alaskan and I know that!

It seems that folks in the rest of the country that are excited about Palin are mainly quoting superficial reasons that someone could gather days: woman, good looks, pro-life and "grit"

This is the ultimate hail Mary pass. Is this a case of ANYONE but the black man? Is there some crazy narcissistic thing going on here? People will vote for whoever reminds them the most of themselves? God help us. Is America really that far out at the mall?

Congress has a 9% approval rating (3-4 times WORSE that that loser, President Bush!). Why is that??? Because they vote for their own self interest, vote with their own party, and never saw a spending increase they couldn't add on to and THEN pass.

Sarah Palin and John McCain have two important things in common. Both have bucked their own party to do what's right, and both have PROVEN they are willing to cut spending. Because Palin wasn't constrained by other elected officials, she actually DID something about corruption, tax cuts, and spending cuts.

Obama and Biden are also quite compatible with one another. Both have voted strictly along party lines, and are the #1 and #3 most liberal Senators in Washington. Both have consistently voted for, and spoken in favor of, increased spending. A rotting combination of pork and socialism that Americans are frankly sick of.

I agree that neither Obama nor Palin have foreign relations or international diplomacy credentials. Neither have served in the military (although Palin has led a state's national guard and has a son in the military). Both would rely on the advice and guidance of others until they came up to speed (but Obama would be "in charge"). Yikes.

So all we have to go on is their CHARACTER, their JUDGEMENT, and their past records. Obama has demonstrated that he will be partisan and will exponentially increase spending. Palin -- IF she ever sat in the oval office -- has demonstrated that she will do what's right whether her party agrees or not, and will cut spending (and veto the crap coming out of the Democratically controlled congress).

And if you're going to level criticism at uninformed voters for choosing "someone like me", let's talk about the 95% of blacks and who they voted for ...

Anyone who thinks that only one major political party is responsible for the mess in Washington is smoking and shooting Rush Limbaugh's koolaid. Posts like yours are going to push the remaining 5% of the minority vote and moderates over to Obama. I think the point is that the public has had access to a lot more information about Obama through the debates, speeches, and interviews to date than to any info about Palin. So the alleged 95% of African-Americans in favor of Obama at least have had some information to go on for a while other than the fact that he's African-American. Most people who don't live in Alaska heard Palin's name for the first time on Friday. So most people really are uninformed about her, so you have to wonder about the reasons for the hysteria of people that are gushing over her already. McCain has to show that he's more of an agent of change than picking a VP that no one (if they're being honest) knows anything about.

Anyone who thinks that only one major political party is responsible for the mess in Washington is smoking and shooting Rush Limbaugh's koolaid. Posts like yours are going to push the remaining 5% of the minority vote and moderates over to Obama. I think the point is that the public has had access to a lot more information about Obama through the debates, speeches, and interviews to date than to any info about Palin. So the alleged 95% of African-Americans in favor of Obama at least have had some information to go on for a while other than the fact that he's African-American. Most people who don't live in Alaska heard Palin's name for the first time on Friday. So most people really are uninformed about her, so you have to wonder about the reasons for the hysteria of people that are gushing over her already. McCain has to show that he's more of an agent of change than picking a VP that no one (if they're being honest) knows anything about.

Anyone who thinks that only one major political party is responsible for the mess in Washington is smoking and shooting Rush Limbaugh's koolaid. Posts like yours are going to push the remaining 5% of the minority vote and moderates over to Obama. I think the point is that the public has had access to a lot more information about Obama through the debates, speeches, and interviews to date than to any info about Palin. So the alleged 95% of African-Americans in favor of Obama at least have had some information to go on for a while other than the fact that he's African-American. Most people who don't live in Alaska heard Palin's name for the first time on Friday. So most people really are uninformed about her, so you have to wonder about the reasons for the hysteria of people that are gushing over her already. McCain has to show that he's more of an agent of change than picking a VP that no one (if they're being honest) knows anything about.

Both parties are ABSOLUTELY to blame for the out of control spending and corruption in Washington. Only one candidate (and his newly named vice presidential pick) have any kind of track record -- or make any kind of promise -- to do anything about wasteful spending, unnecessary taxation, or government corruption. In fact, both have proven that they will DO what they say. That should give you the guidance you need to vote intelligently.

As a committed Hillary backer now firmly in the Obama-Biden camp I am insulted by the choice of Sarah Palin. I backed Hillary because of her domestic-foreign policy experience, she is intellectually astute, has a long and distinguished work record and is ready to be Commander in Chief.
Sarah Palin has none of those qualities. To think that McCain, a 72 year old man with a history of skin cancer, the last melanoma (a metastisizing cancer) would choose a former beauty queen with zero experience to be a heartbeat away from the Presidency is ludicrous. Is McCain's judgment impaired? I wonder.

I couldn't be more sick of hearing people blame "Bush and Cheney" for everything from tidal waves to the high cost of arugula. GIVE ME A BREAK. Today, we have a European leader resigning from office with his nation in the worst recession in its history. Is that Bush's fault too???

Bush didn't write the federal banking regulations (or even sign them). Clinton and his buddy Al Sharpton spearheaded legislation to help unqualified borrowers enjoy the benefits of home ownership. The result? The sub-prime mortgage crisis we now enjoy. Could people be any more stupid than to suggest any of this is the fault of one guy -- Bush???

And, lest we forget personal responsibility, how about getting back in touch with financial REALITY. If you buy a car and can't/don't make the payments, your car gets repossessed. Plain and Simple. It's not the job of the government (or other taxpayers) to make your car payment FOR you.

If you buy a house and you can't/don't make the payments, you lose your house. If you go to Vegas and gamble, you may lose. If you buy a house and gamble on an increase in value to keep the house, you may lose it!

The federal government (read: taxpayers) have NO BUSINESS intervening in the personal financial matters of people who foolishly buy things they can't afford.

Ditto for bailing out auto makers, indivudal airlines, mortgage companies, banks (beyond FDIC insurance), or other businesses who can't operate profitably. Entities who end up in bankruptcy (including automakers and city or state governments) should start with the root of the problem and eliminate the labor unions and the unrealistic benefits that helped to bankrupt them. Boot the unions out and start operating on common sense (and within your means!).

The problems (economic and otherwise) can't be laid solely at the feet of either Repulicans or Democrats -- but collectively at the feet of "Politicians" who continue partisan, corrup "business as usual".

It falls to the rest of us to hold our elected officials responsible for decisions that may benefit individuals, lobbyists, or a target voting block, but will harm the country as a whole. Enough of pandering to unions, the middle class, the upper class, etc.!

It's also up to us as individuals to take personal responsibility for ourselves, then for our extended families, then for our communities and our countrymen.

Regardless of who we support in the election, we need to hold them accountable for making choices that benefit ALL Americans -- not just the select group to whom they pander during an election season.

McCain is far from a perfect choice -- but he's not the "usual" Republican or Democrat. He has demonstrated (not just given lip service to) his commitment to cut spending, cut taxes, and root out corruption. Not perfect -- but better than any other option we have in 2008.

Practical experience versus sound judgment... the argument could be clarified using our beloved president George W. Bush as an example. Start with his owns fathers experience as head of the CIA, Vice President during the Ronald Reagan era, as well as President of the United States. Don't forget his brother Jebs tenure as Governor of Florida; I'm sure they traded a few notes along the way. Last but not least, as Governor of Texas, you would think that the Bushman came to the highest office with a thing or two. I'd bet there were more than just a couple phone conversations whereby Dad Bush was consulted along the way. In any case, look what he did with it! Ouch! It's been 8 years of wrong turns. I won't vote for McCain... he's living in the past, and his judgment with regards to a Vice President (in 7 years McCain will almost be 80, if he makes it that far) was obviously made to obtain votes... not based on WHO would be most capable for the job... oh well. Next!

Do you remember Memorial Day weekend when John McCain had all his main choices to his mini ranch in Cornville, AZ 16 miles from Sedona. What a slap in the face to the people that were there! Mitt Romney and Pawlenty must be piss*d! After all the fuss about Obama not choosing the second place person. McCain does not choose any of the Republican top three. I guess his ego could not take having what the other candidates said about him in the press come back to hit him in the as*. But it was difficult to find a candidate less intelligent then John McCain to be on his ticket – so in that respect she was a good choice.

Sarah Palin has bad judgement because she got PREGNANT? Who's to say she was having unprotected sex??? Were you hiding in the Palin's bedroom??? Condoms, the pill, and even vasectomy aren't fullproof methods of birth control.

Let he who is without good judgement cast the first stone ...

Maybe half the Obama voters should stay home and spend their welfare checks in shame -- because more than 50% of all black children (mostly illegitimate) are raised in homes without fathers. Now THAT'S unprotected sex! You stone throwers on the left are absolutely amazing. Be careful ... that kind of twisted hypocrisy could cost you the election ...